Occupy the Airwaves— Valley Free Radio

Merri Ansara joins hosts Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, Emikan Sudan, and Bob Gardner to discuss the situation in Cuba, including the present blockage of aid and fuel, war threats from the U.S., solar initiatives, solidarity from organizations and countries and conditions on the ground. Merri has a long history of solidarity herself, with her early involvement with the Veneceremos brigade, Radio Havana and Granma News and created her own Cuba travel organization (Common Ground Education & Travel). She is now a parttime resident of Havana. In the U.S. she works with Massachusetts Peace Action, CodePink, the Raging Grannies and the Easthampton for Palestine Group. Merri also discusses the upcoming film screening of @btnewsroom’s “Cuba After Castro” at the Easthampton Library Annex on Monday, May 5th at 5:45pm. Discussion to follow. All are welcome.

Chris Ferry, Director of the Easthampton Film Festival, joins Occupy the Airwaves host Stephen Linsky to discuss the history and schedule of events for 5th Annual Easthampton Film Festival running from April 23rd-April 26th, 2026. This season included a total of 57 films, more than half of which were made by Massachusetts-based filmmakers. In addition to the screenings, this year’s festival includes two receptions, two local narrative feature films, four feature-length documentaries, ten screening blocks of various short films and docs, an awards ceremony, and more. Learn more here. 

Make Polluters Pay co-leader Rachael Boyce joins Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Miranda Groux, Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky to discuss the campaign to pass legislation establishing a superfund funded by the fossil fuel industry to offset the array of infrastructure needs required to address climate change-related conditions brought about by carbon emissions. Rachael also discusses important upcoming events for the campaign:  The Make Polluters Pay campaign is hosting their next strategy session on Saturday, April 25th at 1:30 PM and you're invited! To ensure folx from all over the state can attend, this event will have an online and in-person component. North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB) is graciously hosting the in-person component at: 105 South Huntington Avenue in Jamaica Plain, MA. Activists of all experience levels welcome! This is a great time to learn how to get involved or reengage with a crucial campaign that targets the very corporations responsible for the climate crisis and who are bankrolling Trump's evisceration of our democracy. Come learn how to get involved in the growing movement to Make Polluters Pay! RSVP through the campaign website HERE and indicate how you'll be joining the meeting on THIS Google form. Lunch is provided!

UMass Economics Professor and internationally recognized scholar, Jayati Ghosh, joins Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky to discuss the state of global economic inequality as revealed in a recent report of the G 20 co-authored by Professor Ghosh. A summary of Ghosh’s report can be found here.

Occupy the Airwaves sits down with all of our hosts, plus many of the friends, relatives and comrades of Paki Wieland to remember her extraordinary life, her achievements and her many fine qualities. Hosts include Linda Zigenbein, Miranda Groux, Emikan Sudan, Stephen Linsky and Bob Gardner. Our guests include Priscilla Lynch (CodePink), Crystal Zevon (Occupy Wall Street), Linda Gordon and Carolyn Oppenheim (Raging Grannies), Dodi Meinicoff (long time friend), and Marcelle Morgan (Paki's daughter).   From her childhood in New Orleans, to being a novitiate with Dominicans, to her days as a teacher and social worker, and of course to her devotion to her children and grandchildren, Paki performed important service to human need, along with her drive to make the world a healthier, more just and more peaceful place. Friends and cohorts testified to their own love and connection to Paki and her passion for life and justice.

From the Occupy the Airwaves archives, enjoy our conversation with co-host Paki Weiland from 2023.  Occupy the Airwaves is grieving the passing of our cohost and friend. Paki was a dedicated activist whose energy for the causes she cared about and the people she loved was endless. She was a force in nearly all local movements and peace movements. Paki was a long-time member of an anti-nuclear arms affinity group and was recently prosecuted, along with several other protestors, for blocking an arms company facility (and won!) locally. Her spunk, wisdom, and good humor will be missed by many people across this nation and especially by her friends and family here in the Pioneer Valley. We send our condolences to her loving family and our deep gratitude to the Universe for the gift that was her life. ~Bob, Emikan, Linda, Miranda, and Stephen

Cohosts Bob Gardner and Miranda Groux sit down with Larry Hott, local award-winning documentary filmmaker, and co-founder of Florentine Films, to discuss the top five nominees for Academy Awards in the long and short-form documentary film category, and a few other favorites who didn't make the final cut.   Larry is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and as such, participates in the selection of the documentary films vying for a place in the Oscars. Have a listen to clips from Larry's favorite films, and hear his analysis and personal take on such films as The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting through Rocks, Mr. Nobody against Putin, and The Perfect Neighbor. The topics range from gun violence in the U.S., prison conditions, alt Israeli visions, resistance in Russia and coping with cancer and death. Not the lightest topics, but non-the-less eye-opening and enlightening.

Host Stephen Linsky is joined by local author Ellen Merpool to discuss her latest novel, "Sometimes an Island," ahead of her reading at Broadside Books. Proceeds from book sales benefit Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts.   Ellen Meeropol is the author of the previous novels The Lost Women of Azalea Court, Her Sister's Tattoo, Kinship of Clover, On Hurricane Island, and House Arrest. Her work focuses on the lives of women, especially those on the fault lines between political activism and family. Ellen lives in western Massachusetts, where she is a founding mother of Straw Dog Writers Guild.

State Representative from the First Hampshire District, Lindsay Sabadosa, joins cohosts Bob Gardner, Stephen Linsky, and Paki Wieland for a wide-ranging discussion. Topics included the state response to ICE and the possibility of a surge here, the impact of cuts to needed programs like SNAP and Medicaid, the Governor's new energy policies- including a ramp up of nuclear power, and Rep. Sabadosa's own evolution from a first-year State Representative to a veteran with four years of experience and knowledge.   (Photo by Nikki Gardner Photography)

Join a conversation with Vicky Elson and Tim Wallis- speaking about nuclear weapons bans, the approach of midnight on the Doomsday Clock and what nations and organizations are doing about it. Please join Occupy hosts Paki Wieland, Steve Linsky and Bob Gardner for this important discussion. Visit nuclearban.us to learn more.

Mona, Natalia, and Ilene from the Easthampton Tenants Union join co-hosts Stephen Linsky and Miranda Groux for a conversation about the reality of renting in the valley. Hear what motivates them to organize, how they are building local power with their neighbors, and learn more about your rights as a tenant. Want to get involved in the Easthampton Tenants Union? Attend a meeting! Happening every Thursday at 5PM at Easthampton City Hall. And connect with the union on Instagram or email [email protected].

Join hosts Miranda Groux and Emikan Sudan for an insightful interview with Indigenous scholar and UMass professor emeritus Ron Welburn. Topics covered include the long history of the Indigenous population in North America and its lasting influence on the development of jazz and poetry.

Mary Anne Quiroz (Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center), Ryan Perez (community organizer), and Tomas (artist) from the Twin Cities, Minnesota join co-hosts Linda Ziegenbein, Miranda Groux, and Emikan Sudan to discuss what is happening in their communities, how they are supporting their communities in responding to increased engagement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and what we here in Western Massachusetts can do to support them.   Learn more about how to support: Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center Other Minnesota-based orgs to support Photo credit: Kerem Yucel (2025); IG: keremyucel

Hosts Bob Gardner, Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, and Linda Ziegenbein welcome Pietra Adami from LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts. They discuss the work LUCE, a mostly volunteer- and immigrant-led organization, is doing in the Pioneer Valley and across Massachusetts to protect our immigrant friends and neighbors. Learn more about the LUCE Network and how to support at https://www.lucemass.org/   NOTE: This show was recorded before the murder of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minnesota. We have edited the show to include LUCE's statement.

Occupy the Airwaves hosts Paki Wieland, Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky offered their final reviews of 2025, including their respective opinions on prospects for the 2026 mid-term elections and ongoing resistance efforts to rising right wing authoritarianism at home and abroad.

Occupy the Airwaves hosts review this year’s major events. Join Miranda Groux, Linda Ziegenbein, Emikan Sudan, Stephen Linsky and Bob Gardner as they offer their perspectives on what occurred in 2025, particularly in regard to developments relating to ICE, Gaza, Ukraine, Project 2025, Congress, the Courts and growing inequalities and budget cuts. The co-host panel also offer their opinions relating to the 2024 election results and prospects for the 2026 mid-term elections.

Hosts Emikan Sudan, Paki Wieland, and Miranda Groux are thrilled to welcome Dr. Amilcar Shabazz back to Occupy the Airwaves. Dr. Shabazz shares the history and meaning of Kwanza, current celebrations in the valley, and how we can carry the spirit of Kwanza into our fights for justice and liberation in 2026.