Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Kaatscast visits the unique International Museum of Dinnerware Design in Kingston, New York. Founded by Margaret Carney in 2012, the museum recently found its new home, offering dedicated exhibitions that celebrate the art and history of dining. This episode highlights the museum's two inaugural exhibits, 'Dining Grails,' featuring renowned designers like Eva Zeisel; and 'Dining Memories,' showcasing a diverse array of dinnerware in nostalgic vignettes. And for an 'interactive' experience like no other, visitors can step into the Instagram-ready 'a la carte gallery' and try their hand at the famous tablecloth trick. See how host Brett fared, in this slow-mo video. 00:00 Introduction to the Museum of Dinnerware Design 01:14 The Museum's Origins and Evolution 03:59 Why Kingston? The Journey to a New Home 06:17 Exploring the Inaugural Exhibits 07:36 Interactive Experiences and Unique Art Pieces 16:18 Dining Memories: A Walk Through Time 25:05 The Future of Dining and Museum's Vision 27:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode of Kaatscast delves into the transformative period of the 1830s in the United States, marked by mass enfranchisement and significant demographic changes. The focus narrows to New York's Anti-Rent War (1839-1845), a period of political violence rooted in immigration anxiety and financial distress. Rebecca Rego Barry, our new literary correspondent (!), interviews author Jennifer Kabat about her new book, The Eighth Moon, which explores the Anti-Rent War and its legacy in the Catskills and beyond. Kabat shares her research process, the radical political history she uncovered, and personal anecdotes about moving from London to the Catskills. The conversation evaluates the parallels between past and present political climates, culminating in a discussion about belonging and rebellion in rural America. 00:00 The Radical 1830s: A Time of Change 00:27 Exploring New York's Anti-Rent War 01:34 Interview with Jennifer Kabat 03:34 Discovering Local History 08:33 The Anti-Rent War Unfolds 17:07 Modern Parallels and Reflections 21:42 Community Connections and Belonging 27:31 Upcoming Works and Final Thoughts 34:39 Conclusion and Credits

We sat down with historian Samantha Misa in the Frisbee family cemetery to uncover some witchy tales from our collective Catskills past. Just in time for Halloween, Samantha shares some haunted encounters from Delaware County's Frisbee House and recounts tales from her book, Witches of the Catskills, including Molly Meyers, "witch cat," in Gilboa area's "Spook Woods." Misa recounts the challenges of researching historical witchcraft, using old newspapers and archival records to reconstruct the tales. --- 00:00 Introduction: Do You Believe in Witches? 00:20 Halloween Costumes and Modern Witches 00:56 Historical Witches in the Catskills 01:42 The Frisbee Family Legacy 03:45 Haunted Tales of the Frisbee House 04:55 Researching Witches of the Catskills 08:16 Challenges in Witchcraft Research 09:56 Witchcraft and Cats: A Historical Perspective 11:59 The Dark Mysteries of the Catskills 12:53 Chilling Tales and Skepticism 15:17 Molly Myers and Spook Woods 18:50 The Esperance Witch 19:48 Modern Beliefs and Halloween 20:46 Closing Remarks and Credits --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books and The Mountain Eagle.

This episode takes us to the Woodstock Film Festival's Youth Film Lab, a three-week intensive filmmaking program for teens in Kingston, NY. Each summer, participants learn filmmaking from industry professionals like Gregg Bray, Megan Sperry, Saskia Madlener, and David Becker. The YFL provides a tuition-free launchpad for young filmmakers to produce documentaries and narrative films, which go on in the fall to be screened at the ⁠Woodstock Film Festival⁠. 00:00 Introduction to a Creative Journey 00:23 Youth Film Lab Overview 01:50 Inside the Filmmaking Process 04:03 Meet the Instructors 12:07 Student Experiences and Reflections 14:42 Program Impact and Future Prospects 18:37 Conclusion and Festival Information --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: ⁠Briars & Brambles Books⁠, Ulster Savings Bank⁠, and ⁠The Mountain Eagle⁠. Please rate and review on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you! (Photo courtesy of Megan Sperry)

More than Maps: Insights from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference In this episode of Kaatscast, host Brett Barry interviews Melissa Cascini, Senior Program Coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, during a hike on the Upper Ridge Trail at the Catskills Visitor Center. Melissa shares her journey with the organization, highlighting the importance of their iconic, durable trail maps and the broader scope of the Trail Conference's activities, including trail maintenance, public land protection, and battling invasive species through innovative programs like the conservation dog team. The discussion also delves into the conference's collaborations with other entities such as the DEC and various local clubs to maintain trails and infrastructure, especially in the Catskills region. Melissa reflects on her passion for trails, the rewarding experience of working with dedicated volunteers, and how she balances professional responsibilities with her personal love for hiking and the outdoors. --- 00:00 Introduction to the Trail Conference 00:17 Iconic Trail Maps 00:53 Meet Melissa Cassini 02:18 History and Mission of the Trail Conference 04:15 Partnerships and Collaborations 05:53 Trail Maintenance and Volunteer Work 09:52 Lean-to Projects and Accessibility 13:19 Getting Involved and Volunteer Opportunities 14:26 Personal Insights and Hobbies 16:05 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

In the early 20th century, ⁠Cauliflower Was King⁠ in the western Catskills, and –– especially in the good years –– farmers called it "white gold." Historian Diane Galusha describes the origins of cauliflower farming in Margaretville, the rise and fall of the industry from the 1890s to the 1950s (and beyond), and the notable contribution of the Van Benschoten family. Plus, voices from the annual ⁠Cauliflower Festival⁠, celebrating its 20th year on September 21, 2024. 00:00 Introduction to Cauliflower and Personal Stories 00:55 Margaretville Cauliflower Festival Announcement 01:14 Historical Significance of Cauliflower in the Catskills 02:28 Interview with Historian Diane Galusha 03:47 The Rise and Fall of Cauliflower Farming 10:39 Challenges and Decline of the Industry 14:58 Legacy and Memories of Cauliflower Farming 20:11 Modern-Day Celebrations and Personal Anecdotes 22:59 Conclusion and Podcast Information --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: ⁠Briars & Brambles Books⁠, ⁠Hanford Mills Museum⁠, ⁠Ulster Savings Bank⁠, and ⁠The Mountain Eagle⁠. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of ⁠listeners like you⁠! Please rate and review on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you! (Photo courtesy of Diane Galusha)

In this episode of Kaatscast, we explore the journey of Emily Li Mandri, founder of the women's accessories brand MLE, based in Saugerties, New York. Emily shares insights into the challenges and rewards of running a fashion brand in Upstate New York, her commitment to eco-conscious materials and sustainable fashion, and the influence of her family's background in apparel. We also hear from her assistant, New Paltz theater grad Kiana Duggan-Haas, about the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on ethical fashion practices, local craftsmanship, and a life/work balance in the Catskills. --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you! --- 00:00 Introduction to MLE 01:40 Meet the Founder: Emily Li Mandri 03:20 Sustainability in Fashion 05:58 Challenges and Innovations in Sustainable Fashion 12:51 Living and Working in the Catskills 14:44 Building a Local and National Brand 17:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mark Hearon didn't always drink coffee, but when he got started, he was all in. Now, he's roasting fair trade organic coffee at an 1872 general store that also carries gourmet sandwiches and local essentials –– beer, bread, milk, fishing bait, even a fill-up for your car from a vintage gas pump, making it a unique one-stop-shop for both locals and travelers.
Joined by his daughter Ashley Hearon-Smith, the store’s part-time publicist and social media manager, Mark shares his journey from discovering coffee roasting in California to perfecting his craft in the Catskills. The episode covers the store’s rich history, the roasting process, and the community’s enthusiastic support, including local products such as meats, cheeses, and fresh baked goods. 
https://www.charlottevillegeneralstore.com
00:00 Introduction00:38 Meet Mark Hearon: The Man Behind the Coffee01:54 History of the Charlotteville General Store03:08 Mark's Journey into Coffee Roasting06:13 Ethically Sourced Coffee Beans07:18 Ashley Hearon-Smith: Publicist and Media Guru09:38 Roasting Process and Local Products14:57 Tasting the Coffee and a Sampling of Sandwiches16:21 Local Products and Community Support17:47 Conclusion and How to Visit---Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, Ulster Savings Bank, and The Mountain Eagle.Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!Please rate and review on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you!

Michael Kudish is a Catskills legend and the authority on Catskills trees and forests. In 1971, Kudish earned his PhD with the thesis, "Vegetational History of the Catskill High Peaks." Five decades later, that research is ongoing. In 2000, Purple Mountain Press published his landmark book, The Catskill Forest: A History. Now, an updated 6-volume set is in the works. I met up with Michael at his home/research library in Delaware County, to hear about his latest research sampling Catskills bogs and radio carbon dating peat and charcoal for even more insights into our Catskills forest past.  --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you! Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast was just recognized for the third consecutive year as the "Best Regional Podcast" in the 2024 Chronogrammies! Thank you for your votes, and please take a moment to rate and review us on the app of your choice so even more listeners can find us! --- 00:00 Introduction to Michael Kudish and His Work 00:46 Meeting Michael Kudish: A Visit to His Research Library 01:09 Sponsors and Supporters of Kaatscast 02:09 Michael Kudish's Research Journey 04:50 Understanding the Catskills' Unique Vegetation 08:47 The Impact of Glaciation on Catskills Vegetation 12:41 Discovering History Through Bogs 19:03 Defining and Differentiating Bogs and Fens 28:41 Discovering Ancient Moss in the Catskills 29:08 Peat Sampling Techniques and Challenges 29:57 Radiocarbon Dating: Methods and Costs 31:01 Funding Research Through Retirement 32:09 Transitioning to Writing: The Next Chapter 32:54 Expanding Knowledge: From One Volume to Six 34:22 Consistent Vegetation Over Millennia 37:41 Climate Change Insights 38:39 Exploring the Extent of Catskill Bogs 39:52 Ancient Charcoal and Forest Fires 42:48 Uncovering Prehistoric Forests 47:04 The Six-Volume Catskill Forest History 50:16 The Joy and Work of Field Research 52:15 The Interconnected Lives of Trees 53:45 Conclusion and Future Work

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Hark! On this day's Kaatscast, we journey to the quaint village of Hunter in fair New York, whereupon Catskill Mountain Shakespeare doth present a stirring rendition of the noble tragedy, Julius Caesar. Attend thee this discourse with the esteemed founder and artistic director, Sarah Reny. And verily, seize thee a billet, for this performance doth breathe new life into a timeless saga. --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, Ulster Savings Bank, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you! Please rate and review on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you! Poster design by Nicole Caputo; courtesy CMS.

The Bruderhof is a worldwide community of 3,000 Christians who, inspired by the early church, share their money and possessions, and practice "full-time discipleship," working, dining, and singing together. Perhaps you've bumped into one of their members out in the world (women can be identified by their conservative dress, reminiscent of Amish or colonial attire). Here in the Catskills is a sizable community of 240 residents, in Greene County's Platte Clove. They invited me in for a firsthand look at life in the community, and they graciously answered even my most pointed questions regarding a lifestyle that might seem foreign to others. The Bruderhof aren't reclusive, though, and as the Bible instructs, they are the best kind of neighbors. Join us on this special trip to the Platte Clove Bruderhof community.  --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you! Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast was just recognized for the third consecutive year as the "Best Regional Podcast" in the 2024 Chronogrammies! Thank you for your votes, and please take a moment to rate and review us on the app of your choice so even more listeners can find us!

Dede Terns-Thorpe is the historian for the Town of Hunter, referred to locally as "the mountain top," and comprising the villages of Hunter and Tannersville, and the hamlets of Edgewood, Elka Park, Lanesville, and Platte Clove, plus the historic private communities: Onteora Park, Twilight Park, and Elka Park. Dede's passionate about the history of this place, and she's got her own history here, too, which is mostly what we talked about when we met at Tannersville's Mountain Top library. We were joined by Dede's husband Ed, a Mountain Top native with a few stories of his own to share! Photo courtesy Dede Terns-Thorpe --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, Ulster Savings Bank, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you! Please rate and review on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you!

Join us for our very first LIVE show, recorded at Emerson Resort & Spa as part of their weekend celebration of Ralph Waldo's birthday (born May 25, 1803). Hear from Catskills scholars and writers Leslie T. Sharpe and Bill Birns, with music by Steve Koester! Q&A with the audience, and more! --- If you missed the live event, you can still play our trivia! Top three submissions win 2 drink tokens to the Catamount bar + a CD of Henry David Thoreau's Autumnal Tints! Contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winners! --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

Municipal sewer systems are few and far between in the rural Catskills, so chances are high that your home is reliant on its own septic system. And if that system isn't maintained, well, things could get ugly at the most inopportune time. Thanks to some beefy financial incentives from the Catskill Watershed Corporation, there's really no excuse to delay septic maintenance, and maybe even a full system replacement. In 2023 alone, the CWC subsidized 312 septic repairs/replacements and 680 maintenance calls. Join us for a conversation with Orville Smith, from Titan Drilling; and the Catskill Watershed Corporation's Eric Lane and Mitchell Hull, for plenty of practical advice for keeping your system running smoothly. --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, Ulster Savings Bank, and The Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

In 2022, four Master Gardeners were looking for a new way to bring their expertise to our region, and they did so with a weekly podcast on everything from honeybees to hydrangeas; perennials and pollinators; monarchs, chickens, seeds, goats, and houseplants.  Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley is a production of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Columbia and Greene Counties. And speaking of Cornell, the seed for this podcast was planted in the midst of the American Civil War. Tune in to hear how Abraham Lincoln set that ... root ball (?) in motion! --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and the Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

Paul Misko is an avid Catskills hiker, who –– true to his Boy Scout roots –– is always prepared. As spring rolls in and we pull out the hiking boots (maybe shaking out some nuts and nesting material from winter mouse habitation), Paul offers a refresher on what to pack for our walks in the woods, plus some best practices for hiking with kids and leading a group. For more, check out Paul's blog, Catskill Forest Adventures. And if you'd like to hear John Burroughs' own account of that ill-fated hike on Slide Mountain, we just happen to have an audio edition of his famous essay -- "The Heart of the Southern Catskills" -- on our audiobook titled Afloat & Afoot. --- Thanks to our sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, Ulster Savings Bank, and the Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and the support of listeners like you!

If you've been tuned in to local media for a while, you might Remember Paul Smart, writer for the Woodstock Times and author of the 1994 book, Rock & Woodstock. Paul lives in Mexico now, but he's still writing about the Catskills. And The Strange Recital, "a podcast about fiction that questions the nature of reality," published Paul's latest novel through their very own book imprint. This week, I sat down with Brent Robison and Tom Newton, both of The Strange Recital and Recital Publishing, to talk podcasting, publishing, and writing.  Following our interview, stay tuned for a "podcast takeover," and hear the full Strange Recital episode featuring Paul Smart's Overlook. --- Thanks to our sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and the Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and the support of listeners like you!

Dubbed the "first lady of radio," Mary Margaret McBride was a welcome voice in millions of homes in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, pulling in 6 to 8 million listeners daily! Mary Margaret interviewed 30,000 guests, from Eleanor Roosevelt to the neighborhood plumber, and produced 15,000 shows –– no repeats! Oh, and she was a radio pioneer, broadcasting some of those shows from her converted Catskills barn. When I learned about Mary Margaret, I picked up a copy of Susan Ware's biography, "It's One O'Clock and Here Is Mary Margaret McBride," and reading about her life in journalism, her passion for audio storytelling, and the heartfelt connection she made with her audience, I was awestruck. Join Susan Ware and I for a fascinating conversation about this Catskills broadcast legend. --- Thanks to our sponsors: Ulster Savings Bank, Briars & Brambles Books, and the Mountain Eagle. Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and the support of listeners like you! --- Thanks to Ray Faiola at Chelsea Rialto Studios for bringing McBride's TV pilot to light. See Mary Margaret in her West Shokan home, interviewing actor Eddie Dowling.

Will Nixon has been writing about Woodstock for decades, including a column in the Woodstock Times, and two popular books--Walking Woodstock, and The Pocket Guide to Woodstock, all in collaboration with writer Michael Perkins, who died in 2022. So when Will suggested we hike Overlook Mountain together to talk 'history,' I knew he'd have much to reveal. On today's Kaatscast: join us for a history hike, with Will Nixon.  --- From Atlas Obscura: "Overlook Mountain House: The Skeletal Remains of a Catskills Hotel That Still Welcomes Visitors" Here's a link to the May-June 1976 edition of The Conservationist, featuring Bill Newgold's article, "My Grandfather and the Mountain" Many thanks to our sponsors: The Mountain Eagle and Briars & Brambles Books Kaatscast is also made possible by a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and by the support of listeners like you!

When we spoke with Michael DiBenedetto for our special Ukraine report in August, 2023, he mentioned he'd consider returning in winter, when the volunteer pool was likely to thin. Well, Michael's a man of his word, and we caught up with him this week in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city just about 20 miles from the Russian border. He's volunteering at Hell's Kitchen, where borscht, bread, and other foods are prepared daily for soldiers on the front lines. Liuda is a cofounder of the organization, and she explained how the war in Ukraine, now 2 years running, changed the direction of hers and husband Yehor's lives (they both had careers in IT -- internet technology) before Russia's invasion. --- Bonus interview: Click here for our followup interview with volunteer coordinator Franklin Orosco. Click here for Franklin's FAQ document on volunteering with Hell's Kitchen. Want to volunteer or contribute? Franklin's Instagram page is a good place to start. You can also follow Hell's Kitchen (Ukrainian alphabet, though!).