Off Air with Slater and Marjo

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Matt Bishop, Principal of Taconic High School in Pittsfield, MA. Bishop has worked in the Pittsfield school system for nearly 30 years. With 805 students this school year, this is the first year Taconic has become a full vocational high school (CTE). Times have changed, and attending a vocational high school is now something students seek out rather than look down on. In fact, there was a lottery just to get into Taconic. We discuss all 15 programs students can choose from alongside their core classes, student mindsets, hopes and goals, attendance issues, in-person learning, the changing sports programs, students' respect for diversity among their peers, respect for teachers, and student behavior overall.

Mike Fenton is a Springfield city councilor and attorney running for Massachusetts Governor’s Council District 8. That’s the elected body that confirms judges, parole board members, and other appointments from the governor. District 8 is all of Western Mass. (Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire counties) Berkshire County currently has no Superior Court judge who lives here. District court benches are thin too. Fenton says that’s not an accident. He talks about five Superior Court vacancies at once last year, more than 100 pending homicide cases across the four western counties, and why the Berkshire DA, sheriff, and clerk of courts endorsed him over the incumbent, Tara Jacobs of North Adams. We get into: What the Governor’s Council actually does How judges get confirmed (and why some votes go no) Why local judges matter when the cases are local The difference between “bad decisions” and accountability What he’ll look for if voters put him on the council What a parole board looks like with no former prosecutor on there Democratic primary is September 1.

Corey Bishop is one-half of Bishop West Real Estate, a full-service real estate company based in Berkshire County. In this episode, we focus on vacant retail and commercial spaces in Pittsfield and the Berkshires. Why do investors and developers like Allegrone, David Carver, and Mill Town, the ones actually filling much-needed space, catch flack on social media? We hear about a housing crisis constantly, but Pittsfield has actually lost population over the last 40 years. So where did all that available space go? We also get into Massachusetts' strict squatters' laws and what they mean for property owners. Also, The Berkshire Mall has a plan for redevelopment pending change to the Baker Hill Road District. The proposal includes a plan for two major anchor stores in addition to the standing Target. Will this ever happen?

Ben Garver joined the Berkshire Eagle as a photojournalist in 1995. Thirty years and more than a million photographs later, he retired in 2025. In this episode, Garver walks us through what it actually takes to shoot spot news, the emergencies, accidents, and breaking stories that don't wait for a photographer to be ready, and what that work has done to him over three decades behind the camera. He recounts photographing convicted killer Adam Hall in 2011, an assignment that left him visibly shaken. He also looks back on covering Governor Charlie Baker's pandemic-era visit to Pittsfield, along with memorable encounters with former Governors Jane Swift and Paul Cellucci. The conversation turns to Pittsfield's urban renewal era and how the city has changed physically and culturally since. We close by talking about the shifting landscape of local media, integration of AI, and what three decades in the field taught him about how journalism itself has transformed.

Detective Kim Bertelli-Hunt is a legend in Pittsfield. Known as the "face of the department," she just retired from the Pittsfield Police Department after more than 43 years of service, making her the longest-serving female officer in the Commonwealth. Join me as we walk through her incredible career, starting with her first assignment: going undercover at Taconic High School in 1983. From there we cover her years on patrol, her time as a school resource officer and D.A.R.E. officer, and her eventual rise to detective. Bertelli-Hunt shares some great stories along the way, plus her perspective on building a career in a field that's long been dominated by men.

In this episode, I sit down with Warren Dews III from Hinsdale, MA. Making content as "Dewser" across multiple social media platforms, this dude always keeps it positive and has found success with skits, streaming, and just being himself. He even has his own dance. Dews holds a degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. We talk about two of his viral skits, where he posed as a worker at Walmart and Dunkin'. We also get into race relations in this country, since Dews grew up in a very rural, mostly white town. Plus, we discuss the Nolan Wells case and influencers like Chud the Builder and Clavicular. Watch out for this kid, Dewser. He's a winner. Enjoy.

News of Teddy Swims and Raiche Wright's break up have hit mainstream publications like TMZ, People, and Us Weekly recently. Swims just released a new track called "Break Up In Reverse" which is said to be about their troubled relationship. They have a 1 year-old son together, Rambo. So, what's life like for Raiche now? Raiche grew up in the Pittsfield, MA area and I have known her for 10 years. She is sweet and caring and I appreciate her bravery to sit down with me and chat. Enjoy.

Anthony Giovani grew up hard in the Dower Square area of Pittsfield and eventually became addicted to drugs and alcohol. He got sober about 5 years ago - but he's still addicted to the chaos. Giovani says he wants to be a journalist and a newsman for Pittsfield and the surrounding Berkshires - so he took it upon himself to go live and report on things happening in the area. Unfortunately, Giovani has been a little rough around the edges and has garnered haters out there. Like so many others, he caught my attention - so I decided to see what he is all about. Anthony says he realizes his mistakes. People can change. I wish him the best of luck, and I hope you get something from this episode. 

In this episode, I sit down with Pittsfield Police Chief Marc Maddalena. He is 5 months into his new position as Chief and get right into the current state of Pittsfield. We begin with the recent homicide on Tyler St. and where they are on the investigation and whether the city has a gang problem. The conversation segues to Pittsfield's nightcrawler and social media based "news" reporter Anthony Giovanni and his effect on policing and his most recent charge for weilding a hatchet in public. I also ask him where the popular community police officer Darren Derby is, the state of the homeless situation, night walkers (sex workers), drugs, swatting, the Fourth of July parade, fireworks and a potential new police station in Morningside. 

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mark Kryskow, a trauma critical care and general surgeon with a focused interest in chest wall injury at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Dr. Kryskow is the man who is going to save your life, or at least try like hell to, if you get shot or stabbed, if I can speak in layman's terms for a moment. In this episode, we get into the nitty gritty of the job, debunk some myths, and compare the real thing to what you may have seen on HBO's "The Pitt". Enjoy.

The Pope just released a major encyclical on AI - and invited an atheist AI billionaire to stand beside him at the Vatican. In this episode, my friend Craig and I react to Pope Leo XIV’s powerful warning about Artificial Intelligence. He called for AI to be "disarmed" from logics of domination and exploitation. We also break down Chris Olah’s (co-founder of Anthropic and creator of Claude AI) speech - an atheist who was raised evangelical - as he shared his hopes and concerns for the future of AI. We discuss: • Is this historic collaboration between the Church and Big Tech a good thing? • What happens if AI replaces large parts of the human workforce? • How should Christians navigate the AI revolution? Join us for a thoughtful conversation on faith, technology, and the future of humanity.

In this episode we feature Harmony Edwards-Persip who was a contestant on America's Next Top Model during cycle 20 in 2013. She made it to the top 50 and was subsequently cut due to a pending case after a CORI check. She was devastated. What she learned from that experience, however, shaped what she has become today - a successful realtor, as well as, someone who speaks to women who struggle with anger issues to find their place in society. When Netflix dropped the documentary, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, Edwards-Persip had to watch. We also get into her life growing up in a mostly white community being born to a Jamaican immigrant and black father. Finally, found out why she has the word "woke" tattooed on her arm and how she feels about conservatism now. You maybe surprised. Enjoy.

A crazed gunman started shooting in Cambridge, MA in broad daylight after he told his parole officer he was out for reckoning on Monday. He fired 50-60 rounds from a rifle and struck two people in cars. A "good guy with a gun", a retired marine, assisted Massachusetts State Police in stopping the threat. A lenient judge in 2020 sentenced the man to 5 years in prison after shooting at officers. Plus, we recap the Roast of Kevin Hart and recount some cruel jokes, plus we gush about Sheryl Underwood's performance. We close with Trump's ballroom saga and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool's new blue color.

The Herberg Middle School teacher in Massachusetts that was placed on paid leave after allegedly dropping the N-word and homophobic slurs in class. We react to Dr. Debra Soh’s appearance on Bill Maher's podcast "Club Random" where she promotes her Sextinction book, the brutal 666 dating rule, and the disturbing rise of looksmaxxing & hardmaxxing. Who is Clavicular? The 20-year-old streamer was hospitalized after a chaotic livestream collapse. And there are 3 dead from Hantavirus on a cruise ship right now. What is Hantavirus and how contagious is it?

This episode features Pittsfield native Mike McInerney. The now 45 year-old McInerney reflects on his years of being a young troublemaker and partier, to excelling at motorcross sports, and eventually landing in Texas as a successful timeshare specialist. Over the last few years Mike, (while living together), was trying to help his son, Cameron, another gifted motorcross sportsman, battle mental health issues and drug addiction. Cam passed away at the age of 21 back in December of 2025. 

This episode features Jake McCandless, a tenured teacher, principal and superintendent within the Berkshire County school system. McCandless has been with Lee, Pittsfield, Mt. Greylock, and now W.E.B. DuBois. Join us as we weave through things like how important a male role model (father, uncle, grandfather) is in a student's life, why students study the subjects they do, and the need for financial eduction in the school system. We start with an anecdote of a fight between two women in a yoga class over a handicapped parking spot.

This episode features Alex Carusotto, co-owner of Rip City Baseball Academy in Pittsfield, MA. Join us as we talk about Tiger Woods' latest woes regarding his DUI arrest, plus discover Carusotto's story. From Taconic High School baseball to UMASS Boston, to the Pittsfield Suns to running the training facility.

This episode features Bill Wright, an employee of Blue Q in Massachusetts, a photographer, and health enthusiast. Bill was a skater dude turned Air Force and ultimately lost over 100 pounds after realizing he wasn't healthy in his 40's. Wright is avid cycler and runner. Join us as we talk about RFK, tribalism, looking cool, his mom being a Merry Prankster, his time in the Air Force, and more.

This episode features Tuan Nguyen, a tenured fitness instructor in The Berkshires who currently works at Bousquet Sport. Nguyen, whose parents were immigrants from Vietnam, hails from Oakland, CA who ended up going to college at UMASS Amherst - fell in love with the Northeast region, Western Massachusetts and the four seasons. Join us as we talk about his recent trip to Puerto Vallarta just before the cartel had terrorized the city after the death of 'El Mencho', co-ed cheerleading, all things fitness, and more.

This episode features Pittsfield, MA ward 2 councilor and General Dynamics employee Cam Cunningham. Join us as we weave through topics like the power of nuclear deterrence when it comes to war, geopolitics, the Lenco Bearcat and why market rate housing can trickle down to affordable and low income housing in Pittsfield.

This episode features Tyler Alderman, owner of Quick Fix on North Street in Pittsfield. Alderman was a recent victim of a smash and grab robbery - he suspects he knows the perpetrator based on an altercation with an alleged drunken man days earlier. The man assaulted him which ultimately led to Alderman needing to defend himself. You can hear the story here as well as conversation on gaming culture and more.

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?

This episode features Adam Graney, an AI tool expert. Enjoy as we break down the AI landscape - from ChatGPT vs Claude to the creepy FRIEND bracelet that wants to be your companion. Then we tackle what Elon Musk and Joe Rogan got right (and wrong) about AI taking jobs and universal income and more.

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Maddalena, a retired detective lieutenant with an accomplished 28-year career on the force. He opens up about his journey in law enforcement, the reasons behind his early retirement and the emotional weight he still carries today. Mike also talks about what it’s like working in law enforcement in today's evolving world. Then, we shift gears a bit to learn about what he's doing now, including training businesses of all sizes on active shooter scenarios and various workplace security concerns.

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 Clayton Cowdrey, a 19 year-old U.S. Marine, who recently graduated from boot camp in Parris Island. Cowdrey was injured during infantry school, became depressed and made the mistake of being honest about it - so they kicked him out. He gets candid about his experience, how he handled boot camp, became an expert rifleman, and what the hit Netflix show "Boots" gets right and wrong about the Marines.

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.

Robbie Bernardo was 10 years-old when he was told by his parents that he'd probably never see his brother again after he disappeared in October of 1990 from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Bernardo's brother, Jimmy, was abducted, assaulted, and murdered by child serial killer Lewis Lent, who is spending the rest of his life in prison. Robbie recounts that fateful day, how life was for he and his family moving forward and the book that was written about the case in 2023. We hope you can get something from this powerful episode.

This episode features Kyler Schelling, the showrunner for two popular podcasts featuring former New England Patriots players Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. "Games With Names" and "Dudes on Dudes" are available on all platforms - Schelling, a graduate of Emerson College in Boston who now resides in L.A., tells us the story on how he got connected with the NFL, Edelman, Gronk, Brady, and more. Enjoy.

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.

We speak with Carey Hescock on this episode - the mother of a 25-year-old man who lost his life suddenly in 2022. Hescock's son, Jake, was a D1 football player for UCF who ultimately decided to pivot into the financial sector when he dropped dead during a routine morning jog in Boston, MA. Carey shares her heartbreaking story of her beloved son, cardiac arrest instances in young people, and her contribution to screening for genetic defects in others. 

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.

Tucker Hartmann is madly in love with football - and playing it changed his life. It gave him perspective, taught him discipline, and taught him how to learn to deal with the reality of how far he could personally make it playing the sport. Not being able to play D-1, he now runs and camp called Ascension Elite Football Camp in Massachusetts. Hartmann trains kids to become the best they can be at football. Enjoy.

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 Milton Gasson Jr. (Buddy), a tenured barber from Pittsfield, MA. Buddy learned how to cut hair when he was incarcerated as a young man. Buddy gets candid about how he landed in prison, what he learned about life behind bars and how it shaped him. Buddy also shares his thoughts on monogamy, AI, and whether we are living in the matrix.

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 Katie Smegal, a mother of two in the middle of mitigating divorce. Katie goes into detail about her three week stay at a mental health facility, what meds work for her, what she's learned about being "counter dependent", and her love of photo dumping on social media. It sounds serious, but this is a fun episode to watch. Enjoy.

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.