Episodes

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...

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 ultimate farm-...

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 discover...

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 massive come...

In this episode of Cidiot® , we explore the literal "connective tissue" of our region: the bridges. Host Mat Zucker is joined by Chris Steber, Public Information Officer for the New York State Bridge Authority, to discuss the five major vehicular crossings—from the "grand-daddy" Bear Mountain Bridge to the Rip Van Winkle. We dive into the fascinating history of these landmarks, including why F ranklin D. Roosevelt vetoed the first attempt at a northern bridge, the "engineering epic" of the Mid-H...

Who do you trust for the "real" news? In a landscape of paywalls and strictly managed county reporting, Mat sits down with Jeff Yeh, the man behind the largest social media news source in Columbia County. From tracking DUI arrests to questioning local political transparency, Jeff’s unconventional approach has earned him millions of views—and a fair share of controversy. In this episode of Cidiot ®, Mat and Jeff discuss the "wild west" feel of Columbia County, the delicate balance of being a "loc...

This episode is hilarious—and delicious. Host Mat Zucker dives into the magical world of local farming and the global Slow Food movement with Pierre Fredrichs, co-chair of Slow Food Hudson Valley and owner of Overlook Farms in East Chatham. Recorded at the Creative Legion in Hudson, we discuss: The Movement: How a McDonald’s in Rome sparked a global mission for "good, clean, fair food for all." Life on the Farm: Pierre’s journey from private chef to tending 120 acres of pigs (including a 500-lb ...

“One is fooling the mind. The other is fooling the eyes.” —Thomas Baker on the difference between a magician and an illusionist Season 9 is out! With Cidiot ®, I’ve been trying for more than 125 episodes to open your eyes to new things. This season will be all about wonder. We need to look into the wonder to see what’s possible. So this season starts with magic. Thomas Baker is an illusionist based in Saugerties, New York, known for creating moments that defy explanation. He has sold out the Bri...