MAPSO Podso

In the final episode of season 3, I talk with long time SOMSD music teacher Vern Miller. Before Vern arrived in our school district, he played bass in the 1960s garage band The Remains, who have achieved cult status in the rock world. In fact, they opened for The Beatles throughout their final U.S. tour. So we have a lot to talk about! Website: http://vernmiller.info

Friend of the show, Kevin O'Connor, is back for more! The "This Old House" host and Maplewood native returns to talk about the show's enduring legacy, the advancement of modern construction materials and preserving local landmarks. Plus, more of your listener questions! Thanks to Vinnie from The Roman Gourmet for introducing this episode.  Instagram: @kevinoconnortoh  Instagram: @THisOldHouse Instagram: @theromanmaplewood Instagram: @mapsopodso  

Mason Toye is a South Orange native, who grew up playing Cougar Soccer, before becoming a star player at Seton Hall Prep. He's now a veteran of Major League Soccer, currently playing for Sporting Kansas City.  He joins me to talk about growing up in town, his MLS career and the battle over turf vs. grass. Photo: Courtesy of Sporting Kansas City www.mapsopodso.com Instagram: MapsoPodso

Maplewood resident Heath Brown is an expert on Presidential transitions. He joins me at the dining room table to talk about his latest book, Roadblocked -  an inside look at the transition from the first Trump White House to the Biden Presidency. Plus, he challenges my MAPSO/SOMA knowledge!  Bluesky: @heathbrown.bsky.social

Way before Sza and The Fugees, The Blades of Grass tore up Columbia High School! Their only album, The Blades of Grass Are Not For Smoking, was released in 1967 while they were still students - and resulted in a top 100 hit!  Singer/songwriter/guitar player Marc Black joins me to talk about the band's beginnings here in town, getting suspended from school and his enduring solo career.  Marc Black Website: Marc Black / Black Market Music www.mapsopodso.com Instagram: @mapsopodso 

Maplewood resident Jackie Dubrovich won gold as part of the USA Fencing Team at last summer's Paris Olympics. She joins me at the dining room table to talk about the sport, making history at the games and her love of town.   Polaris Fencing Center: www.polarisfencing.com Instagram: @jackiedubrovich Instagram: @mapsopodso

Golfers, would you be surprised to learn that the modern tee was invented right here in town? It's true! Dr. William Lowell was a member of the Maplewood Country Club, where he tested his new creation. I get the full story from Elizabeth Beeck of the USGA Golf Museum!

Marc Morial served two terms as the youngest mayor of New Orleans before becoming president and CEO of National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization. The South Orange resident joins me at the dining room table to talk about growing up in NOLA, following in his father's footsteps, his MAPSO experience and much more. Instagram: @marcmorial Instagram: @mapsopodso 

South Orange native Joe Martinez spent four seasons pitching in the majors and now serves as MLB's Senior Director of On-Field Operations. He joins me to talk about his time on the mound, the league's latest rule changes and his days in South Orange/Maplewood town baseball. www.mapsopodso.com Instagram: @mapsopodso  

Naomi Soleil was the talk of the town when she competed on the latest season of NBC's The Voice. She joins me in the first episode of season three to talk about her Columbia High School experience, being picked for Team Buble' and her future in music.  Instagram: @naiomisoleil_ Instagram: MapsoPodso More info at www.mapsopodso.com  

I'm popping up for a quick holiday hello - and to solve a big Maplewood mystery about a classic Christmas film. Why is Maplewood, NJ mentioned in the 2004 film The Polar Express? Listen now to find out! Links:  Dickens Village https://maplewoodvillagenj.com/dickens-village  SOMSD Parenting Center & Rent Party Toy Drive https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/news/2024/11/19/toydrive Holiday Food Drive https://www.somapso.com/calendar-list-view/holiday-food-drive 

In the last episode of season two, I talk with Maplewood native Mihali, leader of the popular jam band Twiddle. The Columbia High School grad headlined Maplewoodstock as a solo artist in 2023 where he performed the song "Maplewood" from his album "Effection." We had a great chat about his music, going solo, his love of weed and his hometown - with shout outs to the Village Trattoria, Bagel Chateau and the Milburn Deli. Mihali will perform at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on June 13 - and just announced - a free show in Montclair on June 21! Pick up your copy of "Effection" on vinyl at Tea & Tunes in Maplewood - inside the General Store Shops & Cafe.  Thanks to Soma Confidential for introducing this episode. Links: Mihali - https://www.mihalimusic.com Twiddle - https://www.twiddlemusic.com Maplewoodstock - https://maplewoodstock.com 

We alll know that Bruce Springsteen is New Jersey's Greatest son! And you probably know that the Mighty Max Weinberg is a Columbia High School grad! But I was curious - in all his years of performing, has The Boss ever played a concert in our little towns?  With a little help, I explore some of the history of this area's music scene and try to stake a small claim to the Springsteen legend.  Thanks so actor/musician Charlie Pollock of the Local Heroes band for introducing this episode - https://www.somalocalheroesband.com Links:  Financially Speaking with Mitch Slater podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5RRYy7WN2jaHuqA9LcRXXz  Jim Marino - https://jimmarinomusic.com  David Hajdu - http://www.davidhajdu.com  Music City Mike - https://musiccitymike.net   

Before he was a bestselling author, James Kaplan wrote for the Columbia High School newspaper and spent countless hours devouring books at the South Orange Public Library.  In the years since, he wrote two definitive biographies of Frank Sinatra and collaborated with the likes of Jerry Lewis, John McEnroe and Henry Winkler on their "assisted memoirs." His new book, 3 Shades of Blue, explores the lives of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bill Evans as they made the seminal jazz album Kind of Blue.  We talked at length about his impressive career, some of his most famous subjects and growing up in South Orange.  Thanks to Maplewood Garden Club President Lisa Lackey for introducing this episode. Their 87th annual plant sale is currently underway! Buy 3 Shades of Blue at [words]: [words] Bookstore | 3 Shades of Blue (wordsbookstore.com) James Kaplan Website: www.jameskaplan.net  James Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jckaplan  James Kaplan on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jckaplan  Maplewood Garden Club: www.maplewoodgardenclub.org   

Jessica, a client at JESPY House in South Orange, is a 3 sport Special Olympics New Jersey athlete - competing in basketball, soccer and track & field. She joins me to talk about the daily challenges she faces, training for the Special Olympics and how JESPY has helped her live a full life in our community. Update: Since this interview, Jessica and her JESPY basketball teammates won bronze at Special Olympics New Jersey! Thanks to South Orange mayor Sheena Collum for introducing this episode. JESPY House: https://jespyhouse.org Visit www.mapsopodso.com  Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mapsopodso  

Four time Olympian Joetta Clark is a legend at 800 meters - an event that she never once lost as a member of the Columbia High School track team! The New Jersey and Columbia High Hall of Famer joins me to talk about mental toughness, the evolution of women's running and growing up in South Orange with her father Joe Clark - the Eastside High Principal that inspired the film Lean on Me.  She now simply goes by the name Joetta as she travels the country as a motivational speaker and oversees her company Joetta Sports & Beyond. In an incredible moment for Maplewood at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials, Joetta faced off against her younger sister Hazel (Columbia High School grad) and her sister-in-law Jearl Miles-Clark. All three were coached by Joetta's brother J.J. Clark (Columbia High School grad). They finished 1-2-3 landing all of them a trip to the games in Sydney.   2000 Olympic Trials Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLp9yvotC0  Joetta Sports & Beyond - https://joettasportsandbeyond.com Joetta on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joettaolympian  New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmeGvilUVEA 

Fresh off of his long run as Alexander Hamilton on Broadway, Maplewood resident Miguel Cervantes is here for an in depth conversatoin about his past, present and future.  In the longest episode yet, we discuss all things Hamilton, the tragic loss of his daugther Adelaide to Epilepsy, his ties to MAPSO and his new business - Dingers NJ, an incredibly cool batting cage facility in Maplewood. And, of course, the big question - will he act again??? Dingers NJ: www.dingersnj.com  SHUCADDY: https://shucaddy.com  Cure Epilepsy: https://cureepilepsy.org  Kelly Cervantes: www.kellycervantes.com (Get her book, Normal Broken, at Words)  

Your Seton Hall Pirates have won the 2024 NIT Championship! Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press joins me to recap the tournament and his trip to the finals in Indianapolis. Nobody knows New Jersey basketball better than this man! Follow Jerry on X at @NJHoopsHaven and read his latest columns at https://www.app.com/staff/2647567001/jerry-carino Seton Hall Basketball: https://shupirates.com/sports/mens-basketball 

The crew of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit called Joel de la Fuente "Mariano" for his ability to nail the final scene. The Maplewood actor comes by the house to close out the podcast for 2023 and chat about his decade long recurring role as technician Ruben Morales, his work on The Man in the High Castle and more! Also on the agenda: remembering Andre Braugher, TV vs. film acting, the new SAG contract and enfuriating the Phillippine government with his part on Madam Secretary! We also talk about little known Japanese American hero Gordon Hirabayashi, the subject of Joel's one man show Hold These Truths.  Look for Joel in the upcoming second season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon! Website: www.joeldelafuente.com  Instagram: joeldelafuente Thanks to Erin, Katrina and Deanna, owners of The General Store Shops & Cafe in Maplewood, for introducing the episode!

While you're relaxing on the couch this Thanksgiving, Yosh Nijman will be clocking in for work! The Columbia High School grad and current offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers is heading to Detroit for a pre-turkey meeting with the Lions. But first, he joins me to talk Cougar football, becoming an "a-hole" on Sundays and his favorite slice at the Village Trat.  Thanks to Columbia High School Football Coach Gary Mobley for introducing this week's episode. Yoshi blocking a Raiders field goal this season: https://www.nfl.com/videos/packers-ot-yosh-nijman-blocks-daniel-carlson-s-53-yard-fg-attempt-before-halftim Columbia High Game Footage: https://www.hudl.com/profile/2528577/Josh-Nijman/highlights  

I head over to the South Orange Elks lodge to hang out with Exalted Ruler Dan Pieraccini, who you may also know from the band Forget the Whale. We chat about the history and inner workings of the organization and the great things they do for the community. Plus, am I Elk material?  Thanks to local artist/Vietnam veteran B. John Kaufman, VFW Post 10120 Commander, for introducing this week's episode.  South Orange Elks Lodge: www.southorangeelks.com Forget the Whale on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5jTaVspFTd3rY2xDUfaakR?si=uxu8OeBOQwKMp3Gaxt18iQ B. John Kaufman Art: https://www.bjohnkaufman.com 

South Orange resident Michelle Miller is co-host of CBS Saturday Morning, the former first lady of New Orleans and author of the recent memoir, "Belonging: A Daughter's Search for Identity Through Loss and Love." In her lengthy visit to the dining room table, she opens up about her unconventional upbringing, making a home in Maplewood/South Orange and politely answers my questions about her husband's mustache.  Follow Michelle on Instagram - @michellemiller29 Thanks to SOMA Stage Founder Dana Spialter for introducing this week's episode!

It's a beautiful fall day to have Fox Weather meteorologist (and South Orange resident) Marissa Torres hang out at the dining room table. We cover a lot of ground including working her way up the broadcasting ladder from Grosse Pointe, MI to New York, the human factor in weather forecasting and our mutual love of The Order. How DOES Sheldon remember everyone's name?  Thanks to Jessica and Steph from the SOMA Fox Running Club for introducing this week's episode!  

E on the Street! Eric stops by Seton Hall to try to catch a guest who has alluded MAPSO Podso - Seton Hall Men's Basketball Coach Shaheen Holloway! (Warning - E always gets his man - but he doesn't always have time to check audio levels!)

Influential poet Michael Lally invites me into his remote New York home to talk about one of his  earliest publications, "The South Orange Sonnets." Wearing his Words Bookstore shirt, he tells me about growing up in town as a "punk" in the 1940s, his second career as an actor and defining success and failure at the age of 81. And what actually makes a poem a poem?  Michael's latest book, "Another Way to Play: Poems 1960-2017" is available on Amazon and the usual places books are sold. Check out his blog, Lally's Alley at www.lallysalley.blogspot.com Thanks to Robert Lasner, Executive Director of the Maplewood South Orange Book Festival, for introducing this episode.     

Rolling Stone Editor (and Maplewood resident) Kate Storey stops by to chat about her best selling book "White House By The Sea," a riveting look at the Kennedys through their time spent at the famed Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port. We discuss how this tiny Massachusetts town became the epicenter of America's most powerful political family and how Kate's time researching on Cape Cod led her family to settle here in MAPSO.  Plus, Rolling Stone's epic piece about Fugee/Columbia High School grad Pras Michel and his subsequent conspiracy conviction. And high praise for Elitist Coffee where Kate spent time working on the book.  Thanks to South Mountain YMCA director James Goodger for introducing the episode!  Kate's Website: https://kate-storey.com Follow Kate on X: @KateLStorey

Celebrity chef David Burke joins me in the first episode of season 2 to talk about taking over The Fox & Falcon, New Jersey's culinary reputation and why chefs have to be a little bit crazy! And am I a fool for ordering meat medium well?  Meanwhile, I'm shaking off the summer rust as I forgot to say my sign off line and neglected to mention Jed Bennett.  Fox & Falcon Site: https://www.thefoxandfalconbydb.com Chef David Burke Site: https://chefdavidburke.com  

Recorded live from his set at PorchFest, Nate Sullivan performs his song "Once in a While" (AKA the MAPSO Podso theme song) - and the crowd loves it! ("Once in a While" orginally appeared on the 2013 album Fight Songs from Nate's band Glenn's Army, which is available on Spotify. Please follow Nate on Instagram at @NateSullivanMusic to stay up to date on upcoming releases and live shows!)  

At long last - a meeting between the two most powerful podcasts in town! Cat and Chrissy from SOMAPSO came by the house to hang out and we covered a lot of ground: their semi-obsession with Andrew McCarthy, Cat's disdain for Dirty Dancing and "boffing" Muppets. It's all very unprofessional but tons of fun! Both shows are posting this historic meeting at the same time, which means that everyone needs to listen to it twice! Then keep listening to SOMAPSO every week to hear about some of the great local events coming up and to be bummed out about the ones you missed. #PodcastBFFs www.somapso.com Instagram: somapso_life  

Would you believe that MAPSO once had it's very own amusement park? I mean a real, legitimate amusement park! We interrupt your summer with a quick history of Maplewood's Olympic Park. 

In the final episode of Season 1, resident actor Matt Servitto sits down to talk about his start in soap operas, his problem with South Orange gas lamps and playing Agent Dwight Harris for six seasons on The Sopranos.  We cover it all in the longest episode yet: sharing the screen with James Gandolfini, the show's rock star success and the infamous series finale. Plus, South Mountain Reservation misses it's change to be a part of Sopranos history. Thanks to Adam and Naz Heydt of SOMA Brewing Company for introducing the episode. #BreakForJedBennett 

You may have seen National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski on Animal Planet, NatGEO WILD or on his regular TV appearances with Conan O'Brien. The Maplewood resident stops by the house to answer all of my crazy wildlife questions. Where do bears come from when they're spotted in town? What could eat you when you're hiking in the reservation? What are the coolest local animals to look out for? Plus, crazy pets that are legal to own in New Jersey and how to attract butterflies to your backyard. Associate producer Crosby the Cat is starstruck! Buy David's book National Wildlife Federation: Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Animals wherever books are sold - or get a signed copy in the MAPSO Podso shop!  

"Bearded Boomer" (Marco Hurtado) has over a million TikTok followers who devour his countless feel good dance videos - which landed the Maplewood resident a spot as a contestant on the NBC show Dancing With Myself. He tells me how it all started and shares his philosophy on life. And the great Matt Boren (How I Met Your Mother) is back - in the co-host chair! Plus, nobody walks more than Jed Bennett! All things Marco: https://beacons.ai/bearded__boomer Matt on Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Matt-Boren/B07CLGVLJL 

You might know that tennis great Althea Gibson broke the color barrier at the U.S. National Championships in 1950. You probably don't know that the path to that moment ran directly through MAPSO. I talk about her legacy and explore the history of racism in our community with Althea's second cousin and South Orange resident Don Felder as well as former Maplewood mayor Fred Profeta, co-founder of the Community Coalition on Race. As a child, Fred's family were members of the then segregated Maplewood Country Club. 

Have I been mispronouncing the name of my own podcast? Almost three months into the show, I finally address the critics! Plus, I dig into the history of our area's two nicknames - MAPSO and SOMA. 

There was big trouble on South Orange Avenue in 1961! Seton Hall basketball, a top team at the time, was rocked by a major point shaving scandal that destroyed the program for years to come.  ​I tracked down Frank Besson, a 6'3" backup forward on the '61 squad, to help me run through the details.

You've probably read the sign: "On October 29, 1929 baseball legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played an exhibition game on Cameron Field" in front of "more than 12,000 spectators." Baseball historian and NJ Historical Society Chairman John Zinn joins me to help fill in the details and separate fact from folklore.  Check out John's books and blog at https://www.zinnbooks.com. 

Before he was a member of the rock band Ween, Claude Coleman Jr. spent his teenage years banging his drums in the basement of his family's home on Bowdoin Street. Claude joins me from his new home in Asheville, NC to talk about his musical upbringing at Columbia High School, the inner workings of Ween and the near death experience that changed his outlook on life.  Ween: https://ween.com/ Amandla (Claude's band): https://amandlanet.net  SoundSpace @ Rabbit's (Claude's Rehearsal Studio): https://www.soundspaceavl.com

As the longest tenured host of the PBS series This Old House, Maplewood native Kevin O'Connor has been helping educate viewers about home improvement for two decades. ​ I chatted with Kevin about the inner workings of the show, his unlikely TV stardom and his love of The Roman Gourmet. Plus - he answers some of your home improvement questions!

One of my favorite novelists, Joshua Braff, joins me from the West Coast to talk about his books, the world of publishing and finding inspiration in his hometown of South Orange.  ​Learn more about his writing, music, art and photography at www.joshuabraff.com. And check out his band North Beach Gritty on Spotify.  (And yes - they're related.)

Music legend Dionne Warwick joins me on Zoom (from a mile away) to talk about living in South Orange, her love of Twitter and the day she scared Snoop Dogg. ​ The new documentary about her life, Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over, is now streaming on HBO Max.

Owner Cathy Rowe welcomes me into the Timothy Ball House in Maplewood, where legend has it that George Washington spent time during the Revolution. ​ But what do I know? So we present the evidence to Alexis Coe, author of the best selling Washington biography You Never Forget Your First, and await her verdict. 

International attorney Jon "Jonny" Hines invites me into his Manhattan apartment to share the story of how he and his friends invented Ultimate Frisbee in the Columbia High School parking lot. Hines, a South Orange native, was inducted into the Columbia High School Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Writer/Actor Matt Boren stops by the house to talk about his move from Los Angeles to Maplewood and his recurring role as Stuart on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother.  Check out his debut novel Folded Notes From High School wherever books are sold and his Audible Original, Brackish Waters, narrated by Christina Applegate. (Oh - and we met in high school!)

Introducing a MAPSO (Maplewood/South Orange) podcast for all people! Learn about some of the great history and pop culture connected to our wonderful and quirky community. Coming soon!