PODCAST · society
Onomatopoeia
by Columbia Journalism School
Onomatopoeia: Sounds like New York is a podcast about the people and places of New York City. In season 1, we see a psychic, do yoga in the park, tour the city on a boat and eat Russian dumplings in Brighton Beach. We’ll hear from a guy who plays at a showtunes-only piano bar, a lesbian priest who just moved to the city, a drag queen who teaches preschool, a master tap dancer, and more.
Episodes
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Rejected From Columbia – What I Did Next
In this episode, Londyn Miller speaks to Peter Beaini, a recent graduate of Columbia University’s Master of Science in Marketing Science program. Peter is an international student and engineer. Though, he almost didn’t get into Columbia. He talks about his journey getting accepted and what it was...
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NYC’s First Rooftop Beekeeper
In this episode, Alice Harrison profiles David Graves, New York City’s original rooftop beekeeper. Nearly 30 years after creating his first urban hive, Graves remains dedicated to his craft, adapting to both personal hardships and the pressures of a changing climate.
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“Jews for Zohran” Turn Out on Election Day
In this episode, Alice Harrison heads to East Harlem on Election Day with a group of volunteers from Jews For Racial & Economic Justice. The group of “Jews for Zohran” catches voters before they cast their ballots at the polls, doing one final push for Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani.
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Playing Authenticity
In this episode, Olivia Morrison talks to Theodore Bouloukos, a working actor in New York City with three decades of experience. He's starring in a new play, Nepo Baby, and shares what this new project means to him.
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Presenting Lady Di Mega Diva
In this episode, Baiz Hoen talks to Lady Di Mega Diva. She’s a 26 year old aspiring pop star living in New York City. And she’s just released the song Mrs. Soprano, both a single and a new music video. It’s the first in what she hopes to be a long line of projects: revisionist…
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Noreen Sumpter Goes Public
In this episode, Max Rykov interviews Brooklyn-based artist Noreen Sumpter about how a chance encounter led her from painting privately to opening a pop-up gallery on Myrtle Avenue. She reflects on what it’s been like to suddenly share deeply personal work with the public.
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Gabriel Tavarez – A 20-Year-Old Student in New York Juggling 4 Jobs
I profile Gabriel Tavarez, a 20-year-old BMCC student balancing 4 jobs as a Judge’s Aide, Gelato Scooper, HVAC Assistant, and a Bartender to support this nearly fully funded education and his mentally ill mother. I detail him and how New York City is becoming increasingly more unaffordable for...
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Watching Democracy Unfold at a NYC Polling Station on Election Night (NYC’s 2025 Mayoral Election)
I stayed at a polling station during the 2025 Mayoral Election between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Silwa, where I reported on what happens before, during, and after 9 PM deadline. I detail the atmosphere an hour or so before they close when late voters walk in, during their closing...
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From Times Square to Nowadays on Election Night
In this episode, Max Rykov travels across New York City on election night and ends up outside Nowadays in Ridgewood, where crowds celebrate Zohran Mamdani becoming the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor.
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The Morning after the Presidential election
In this episode, Laïny Jernidier interviews New York Senator Roxanne Persaud, who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign, to discuss her reflections the morning after Harris’s loss.
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A Podcast of An Artist
In this episode of Onomatopoeia, Hope Talbot interviews Zach Purtzer, an artist living in Williamsburg. Commonly dismissed as just yet another starving artist, there’s more to Purtzer than just a Brooklyn stereotype.
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A Tourist’s Memorial
In this episode, Hope Talbot revisits the MoMA Sculpture Garden, her late mother’s favorite spot. Grieving her mother’s death, and coming to New York in the immediate aftermath, Hope explores how she got here.
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Reaching New Heights
Paul Maniaci faces his fear of heights in riding the Roosevelt Island Tramway high above New York City.
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All I Want for Christmas
Every year, as autumn comes to an end and the Christmas season draws near, Ann pulls a box down from her closet. Inside it are wigs and hats, white fur, jingles and green and red clothes. When she puts it on, she becomes Mrs. Claus. Santa Claus’s wife. But even though Christmas is a joyful…
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New York Goes to Clown School
In this episode, Leilani Combs speaks with River Glassberg, a 25 year old actor, poet and now… clown. Listen along as we enjoy their first clown performance as a part of Coney Island USA’s inaugural class of the new Clown Skool. We talk about how the clowning community has played a role in their...
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No Home in this World
In this episode, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism Masters student Leilani Combs navigates identity, aging and New York City.
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History Mystery!
On a mission to inspire and create a better world—starting now—this theater’s work is encouraging children and audiences alike to take action and be part of a movement shaping a brighter future.
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A K!nky intro to BDSM
In this episode, Laïny Jernidier takes you inside her first BDSM and kink workshop, held in the heart of Chinatown. From flogging to spanking, this experience marks the beginning of a three-month deep dive into an underground culture and community that she is exploring for her master’s thesis...
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Crispy Fall
Malene decides to eat meat for the first time in over a year. As she stands with the burger in her hand, it doesn't take long before she starts to doubt her decision.
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Finding Joy: A pediatric hospice nurse practitioner’s journey
In this episode, Liza Monasebian meets a pediatric hospice nurse practitioner and volunteer who have found moments of joy in one of life’s most challenging professions.
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Tap On Tap
Long time dancer Mary Six Rupert has made it her life's mission to help those with mobility challenges get to tap dance.
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Horse riding–The “rookie cowboy”
This episode is about the first time I, Jace Zhang, was riding on a horse back. I’m a big fan of the game “Red Dead Redemption” and always eager to get myself closer the world of the Wild West. The horse indeed in some way brought me into that world.
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Cory Ng – The co-owner of Potluck Club in Chinatown
Cory Ng, a restaurant owner born and raised in Manhattan’s Chinatown. While with more residents moving out the community, he decided to come back and bring his energy back to his loving community.
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A Visit to a Bar… Why Not?
On this episode of Onomatopoeia, Tabius McCoy steps out of his comfort zone. As a liberal from a historically liberal city, Tabius McCoy made the decision to visit a bar on the South Shore of Staten Island that was deemed rather conservative based on various online reviews. Tune in to see how his...
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Media layoffs leave NBC Pages fearful of graduation
NBC Pages are anxious of graduating from the program, as layoffs and budget cuts continue to grow in the media industry.
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Fighting Cancer through Fashion- The Story of Dr. Yoko Katagiri
This episode of Onomatopoeia features Dr. Yoko Katagriri, a longtime professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Dr. Katagiri talks about her courageous battle with cancer and how fashion and teaching have helped her inspire and encourage other people who are also fighting cancer like herself.
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A Language I Can Understand
How can someone feel close to their cultural roots when they don’t speak their native language? A music lover, buys a solo ticket to see a jazz show for the first time at The Red Pavilion in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
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The Entrepreneur Behind A Thriving NYC Dog Cafe
In this episode, Juliana Giacone meets Coppy Holzman — the co-founder of Boris and Horton. Coppy shares how he and his daughter built a successful dog-friendly cafe business in New York City.
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Nature and Justice: Multimedia Artist Saharah Uses Her Voice to Demand Action
This episode is about henna artist and singer-songwriter, Saharah, and her motivations as a creative.
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Voice and Silence: Yiru’s Journey
A poignant exploration of Yiru Chen’s experiences as a deaf educator, feminist, and survivor of cyberstalking. Navigating the challenges of disability and advocacy, Yiru’s story unfolds in the vibrant backdrop of New York’s unique feminist stand-up scene, where humor becomes a tool for…
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Miki Mu and the Bed-Stuy Walls
In this episode, Jasmin Matthews speaks to Michela Muserra - an artist, curator, and founder of the mural festival, Bed-Stuy Walls.
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Maybe I Have Been Here Before
Kira takes a journey to a Russian supermarket to feed a craving for her grandmother’s cooking.
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Not a Typical NYC Liquor Store
How a liquor store in Washington Heights came to be.
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Echoes of the Game: A Table Tennis Journey
Rediscover the essence of table tennis in ‘Echoes of the Game.’ Join Charlotte Zhao as she returns to the court after a decade, blending the sounds of competition with personal reflection. This story is more than a game; it’s a journey through memories and the joy of playing for the sake of play.
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Citi Biking as a Rookie
In this episode, Jasmin Matthews brings us along for a seemingly simple activity: riding a bike.
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The Death Tradition
How do you grieve someone that is still with you? Meet Kira Birney—painter, doula and daughter as she prepares for her mother’s passing.
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The Dance Guru of Koreatown
Meet Sahasra Sambamoorthi, a dancer and performer who runs an Indian classical dance studio in the heart of Manhattan's Koreatown.
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A Honduran Entrepreneur Built a Chocolate Empire
Maria Olloqui speaks to a chocolate connoisseur and takes a trip to her factory in Brooklyn.
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I Don’t Dance
In this episode, Maria Olloqui dances out of her comfort zone in none other than a Cuban salsa class.
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A Quadruple Threat
In this episode, Ryan Kilkenny speaks to actress and financial coach Jacqueline Keeley on the heels of making her directorial debut.
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The Unexpected Journey
Summer Xia took the train to Sunset Park on a Saturday to try to talk to Chinese seniors for a story she was working on. However, when she arrived, she found something unexpectedly beautiful and unique and realized that fast-pace life might also need a break.
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The Big Idea
Aviva Zablocki explores how one woman’s pursuit of change altered the private school landscape in her local community.
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Dinner at Merlins
In this episode, Churchill Ndonwie attends a dinner where friendship is the main course on the menu
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The Rink at Rockefeller Center
In this episode, Churchill Ndonwie visits the ice skating rink at the Rockefeller Center and explores its history
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The Birdman of Bryant Park
In this episode, Elissa Castles talks with Djhn Williams, a sanitation worker at Bryant Park who is more famously known as “The Birdman”
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The Secret Behind the Tiles
In this episode, follow Yuchen Li to the world of mahjong. Listen to the secret behind the tiles told by Gregg Swain, a mahjong author, collector – and, most importantly – a player.
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Take the Leap
Patrick Hagan talks to an actor with an unexpected side gig.
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The Preacher and the Podcast
Thomas Copeland travels to Queens with the host of an unusual podcast.
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Doors open as curtains close for Broadway’s Phantom of The Opera
Tamia Fowlkes speaks with Phantom of the Opera's history-making leading lady, Emilie Kouatchou about being the first Black actress to take on the role on Broadway.
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The Ruins of a Virus
In this episode, Ryan Kilkenny visits Roosevelt Island for the first time to see the ruins of a virus…and a cat sanctuary.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Onomatopoeia: Sounds like New York is a podcast about the people and places of New York City. In season 1, we see a psychic, do yoga in the park, tour the city on a boat and eat Russian dumplings in Brighton Beach. We’ll hear from a guy who plays at a showtunes-only piano bar, a lesbian priest who just moved to the city, a drag queen who teaches preschool, a master tap dancer, and more.
HOSTED BY
Columbia Journalism School
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Onomatopoeia have?
Onomatopoeia currently has 88 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Onomatopoeia about?
Onomatopoeia: Sounds like New York is a podcast about the people and places of New York City. In season 1, we see a psychic, do yoga in the park, tour the city on a boat and eat Russian dumplings in Brighton Beach. We’ll hear from a guy who plays at a showtunes-only piano bar, a lesbian priest who...
How often does Onomatopoeia release new episodes?
Onomatopoeia has 88 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Onomatopoeia?
You can listen to Onomatopoeia on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia is created and hosted by Columbia Journalism School.
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