Marty Jezer: Author, Activist, Optimist
from Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast Hosted by #arlenedistler, #steveminkin, #judyashkenaz, #jefflederer, #marylarose, #austinrice, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant, #guilfordsound, #woodystarkweather
This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail was written and narrated by Arlene Distler. Additional narration was Judy Ashkenaz, Steve Minkin and Woody Starkweather. Producer and Executive Producer was Lissa Weinmann. Editing was Austin Rice with post production by Alec Pombriant. Mastering was by Guilford Sound. Musical selection for opening and closing music was Jeff Lederer's “Right Action” from his 2021 album 'Eightfold Path' and Mary LaRose for scatting in “Tinees Blues”. Special thanks to the crew at BCTV for great studio support. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.
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What this episode covers
Marty Jezer was a writer, columnist, activist and self-help exemplar who was well known in Brattleboro and beyond. Narrated by his long-time partner artist and writer Arlene Distler with commentary from Jezer’s friends and associates Steve Minkin and Judy Ashkenaz, the podcast gives a sense of Marty’s style and commitment to political dialogue. We learn about his books on Abbie Hoffman ('Abbie Hoffman: American Rebel', upon which the film 'Steal This Movie"' was largely based) and others, his attempt to start a new ‘Citizens Party" and relationship with US Senator Bernie Sanders, his daughter Kathryn Jezer-Morton, who is also a writer, and his weekly column in the daily Brattleboro Reformer. We hear from stuttering expert Woody Starkweather who reflects on how Marty’s autobiography 'Stuttering: A Life Bound Up in Words' remains a beacon for the stuttering community. We hear how Marty co-founded with Distler the Brattleboro writers' group 'Write Action,' which is a founding partner in the Brattleboro Words Project. We learn of his love of jazz, especially 'scat' and hear an example from singer Mary LaRose, and how each year scholarships in Marty's name are given to local students studying both jazz and journalism. We hear Distler read her poem 'Centering' about Marty's last days before he succumbed to cancer in 2005. The podcast ends with the image friends carrying Marty’s coffin along South Main Street to the tune of 'Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” to his final resting place at Shir Harim cemetery. He would have loved that.
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