Cidiot
Learning to live and love life in the Hudson Valley.
Have you fantasized about living in the country? Curious what the transition is like? Or are you a local and want to see a different side of the folks who've invaded your land? Tune in to Cidiot®, a monthly award-winning podcast hosted by Mat Zucker. Great for learning about upstate New York, the Hudson Valley, the Catskill Mountains, and rural and country life in general. Also, be sure to hear the single "Cidiot" anthem inspired by the podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
Winner for regional podcast in the 2021 Chronogrammies, Cidiot has been featured in The Albany Times-Union, Country Living, Hudson Valley Magazine, The Poughkeepsie Journal, NBC's Today.com, The Daily Yonder, and more national and local publications.
Recent Episodes
137
Aug. 12, 2026
137. Empire Rye: New York's Own Whiskey
Head north to Old Chatham in the Hudson Valley with us for another walk-and-talk adventure — this time at Silver Brothers Distillery, set on a beautiful former sheep farm with rolling hills, open vistas, and serious "old money" energy. Host Mat Zucker sits down (and walks around) with founder Matt Greitzer — yes, two Matts for the price of one — who traded 25 years of NYC marketing and advertising for full-time farm life and a whiskey business named after his twin sons. Matt G. gives us th
136
July 22, 2026
136. Moving and Storage in the Hudson Valley
Whether you are packing up a one-bedroom apartment or hauling a heavy, beloved upright piano between boroughs, moving is a massive, stressful milestone. In this episode of Cidiot, we are pulling back the curtain on the moving industry to unpack the mysteries of proper packing, budgeting, and storage. Mat sits down with Ryan Hart from Mabey’s Moving & Storage—Columbia County's newly crowned best moving company by the Register Star—to deliver the ultimate guide for cidiots on the move. Fun f
135
July 1, 2026
135. Navigating the Hudson with Freedom Boat Club
Ah, there is nothing quite like being out on the water—especially on our beloved Hudson River! 🌊 In this episode of Cidiot®, we are diving headfirst into the boating lifestyle. I’m joined by Josh Rosella of Freedom Boat Club to talk about how they are making waves right here in the region. As the world’s largest boat club, they are opening up the water to everyone with three fantastic Hudson Valley locations spanning both sides of the river—Ossining, Haverstraw, and Piermont—plus a spot at Li
134
June 15, 2026
134. Summer Like A Local: Visit Columbia County
New York City has the energy, but Columbia County has the air. Two years moving here from just 20 minutes south in the Hudson Valley, host Mat Zucker still feels like a bit of a "cidiot" sometimes—always eager to explore more of the incredible 635 square miles of valley, hills, farms, and villages right in his backyard. In this special episode, produced in collaboration with Columbia County Tourism, Mat serves up a very personal seasonal guide. Whether you're a foodie chasing the ultima
133
May 7, 2026
133. Walking Olana
Just in time for Frederic Church’s 200th birthday, we’re taking you along for a "boots on" tour of the moving landscape he spent decades designing here in the Hudson Valley. I’m walking the carriage roads of the Olana Historic Site with Annik LaFarge, author of the new book Composing Olana: A Journey on Foot Through Frederic Church's Greatest Work of Art. It’s the first book about this thoughtful and artful landscape. You’ll hear the wind in the trees and the crunch of the gravel as we dis
132
April 23, 2026
132. Chocolate is a Fruit? Bryan Graham of Fruition Chocolate Works
Let's go bean-to-bar. In this episode of Cidiot,® Mat Zucker dives into the world of world-class indulgence right here in the Hudson Valley. Joining the show is Bryan Graham, the award-winning chocolatier and co-founder of Fruition Chocolate Works. From his roots in the Catskills to the kitchens of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Bryan shares his journey of building a bean-to-bar empire. We talk about the "American craft chocolate movement," why milk chocolate is making a massi
Recent Blog Posts
Aug. 9, 2026
Sip Local: How to Taste Rye and Single Malt Like a Pro with Matt Greitzer, Founder of Silver Brothers
Great whiskey is one of humanity’s great achievements. Layered, complex, and remarkably diverse in flavor, whiskey speaks to the place it comes from—and, at its best, transports you there. Hudson Valley whiskeys have this quality, and learning how t…
June 15, 2026
Summer Like A Local: Visit Columbia County
New York City has the energy, but Columbia County has the air. When Mat traded riding the subway for walking outdoor trails nearly more than 10 years ago, he didn't look back. But truth be told, even in he and Brian's latest move to the Hudson ar…
May 25, 2026
Cidiot’s Favorite Dog Walks in the Hudson Valley
Easier access to the outdoors and stunning walks is a feature of moving from the city to the country. You don’t need to have a lot of property to really get outside. Now, cidiots need to learn the difference between a “hike” and a “walk.” As you hop…
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