Sometimes the show takes you to new places, and sometimes the way to get there is the destination. U.S. Route 9 is historic—for much of the portion in New York State, it's The Albany Post Road. Join Cidiot® for a very personal driving tour from Poughkeepsie to Kinderhook with sites,…
Welcome to Season 6 of Cidiot®! I'm excited to talk about 700,000 acre-big Catskill Park, "America's First Wilderness," with Ryan Penny, owner of Camp Catskill in Tannersville, NY. In two parts, we'll cover what drew Ryan to the Catskills, about starting his store in Tannersville, spotting a cidiot, and about…
Cidiot closes out Season 5—the show's biggest yet—with reflections on what worked and what's ahead. Thank you for making Cidiot one of the Hudson Valley's biggest and most loved shows. Stay warm catching up on past episodes and watching the Cidiot anthem video, available here (https://youtu.be/fXhefOe3TAQ) , via Cidiot.com, and…
I love color. I’m fascinated by color. I have questions. Amy Krane is an architectural color consultant as well as a real estate broker. And get this: she has her own podcast on color called Let’s Talk (Paint) Color with colleague Amy Woolf. On this episode in three fun, chatty…
Ash trees are dying fast. Not just at our house, but across the Hudson Valley. This has made me learn a lot about taking care of trees (e.g., the PINE method for tree care: prune, inspect, nourish and extend), meet a shirtless tree caregiver, and find an expert to ask…
Meet a couple who makes a leap, not just in moving upstate, but by restoring a motel. Cidiot talks to Kendra Sinclair and Jared Vengrin who have just opened the Reclaimed Motel in Red Hook in Dutchess County, New York. Jared grew up here, met Kendra in college and now…
It seemed like a giant beehive was in our willow. Or was it? What should a cidiot do anyway? This episode is about the little critters that fill our lives—and our properties—in the Hudson Valley. Bees, wasps, bats, snakes, spiders, chipmunks, frogs, beavers—and more. Tune in for an education and…
Let's talk more broadly about this movement to the country and the experience for each of us. I speak to artist and photographer Alissa Hessler, founder of Urban Exodus, a project and podcast. She is also author of Ditch The City and Go Country: How to Master the Art of…
When you think of art in the Hudson Valley, your head probably goes to the Hudson Valley School and the river, mountains and landscapes of Thomas Cole and Frederick Edwin Church. You know, dead old white men. Anne Sanger runs the Pinkwater Gallery (https://www.pinkwatergallery.com/) in uptown Kingston. She’s an artist…
In a special cross-over in honor of International Podcast Day, Cidiot talks to this year’s winner of the Chronogrammie for regional podcast (we got runner-up!) Brett of Kaatscast podcast. It’s no wonder he won. A pro in audio with a very handsome voice and a public radio style podcast, Brett…
If you love books, you’ll love this episode. Cidiot gets local, pro recommendations from Oblong Books in Millerton and Rhinebeck, The Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, Rough Draft Bar & Books in Kingston, and several Cidiot listeners. Links here and on the episode page on Cidiot.com Books mentioned: • One Hundred…
A big part of why we love the Hudson Valley and Catskills is because of the farms and the animals. In this awesome, moving, eye-opening, and hilarious episode, you’ll meet the fabulous Kathy Stevens and hear how Catskill Animal Sanctuary (https://casanctuary.org/) in Saugerties got started and its mission. You’ll learn…
Ashes are among the first trees to change color, the Cary Institute noted on its website back in 2010. Their subtle tones set off the deep red creepers in their branches. Ash trees also are valuable as timber — most famously for baseball bats, but also for flooring and many…
Super-short episode today while Cidiot prepares for a big, big, big fall sprint of shows starting September. Very excited and a new sponsor coming too. • Get on the free Cidiot newsletter to not miss a thing (https://mailchi.mp/392408291576/cidiot-sign-up) ! • Cidiot Anthem (Audio only): Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/cidiot-anthem-single/1604058510?uo=4) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/28PzYUk3U9uyfx8bga8kEg?referral=labelaffiliate&utm_source=1101lw8r9ESa&utm_medium=Indie_Distrokid&utm_campaign=labelaffiliate)…
Four years since the show debuted! What a good time for a State of the Cidiot. In this special episode, Mat reflects on what Cidiot has accomplished so far along with birthday messages from several listeners, including Mark, Katie, Allison, Irwin, Adam—and of course superfan Leslie, Mat's mom. Thanks for…
Is there an equivalent for cidiots in Maine? Yes there is! In fact, Mainers have their own dictionary of phrases I was excited to learn on our two-week vacation. It got me thinking about doing nothing and doing everything. I'll share my update on our to-do list and Robinson Greig…
Backstage creating the Cidiot Anthem with Space Studios in Red Hook, NY
Backstage creating the Cidiot anthem with Space Studios in Red Hook, NY
Inspired by the award-winning Cidiot podcast and based on the song created with Space Studios in Red Hook, NY. Executive Producer & Host: Mat Zucker, Cidiot Publishing Creative Director: Paul Rivers Bailey, Space Studios Music: Space Studios, performed by El Seuco and The Don (https://www.elsuecoandthedon.com/) Production: WaferCubes Visit www.cidiot.com for…
Newburgh is one of the oldest towns in New York State and frequently talked about as a city coming around. Cidiot spoke to Diane Parisella, who with her business partner Lisa Morgan, own Designed Grind Cafe (https://www.instagram.com/designedgrindcafe/) at the Newburgh Mall and started The Newburgh Market (https://www.instagram.com/newburghmarket/) , held on…
I asked our new sponsors at Taconic Toastmasters Club to help me be a better presenter on air for you. They went through a few of my episodes and tell me what I'm doing right—and maybe could be better. I'm a believer in self-improvement and I'll take a few tips…
Let's go further north. Health. History. Horses. And culture. Cidiot has a one-on-one conversation with Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). You’ll hear about Elizabeth’s journey to leading SPAC, her discovery and full on love of Saratoga, what’s on this season, from jazz to the…
It's strawberry season! Yes, I can't eat them sadly, but you probably can happily. In this special episode breaking from our usual schedule, hear directly from Robinson Greig at Greig Farm (https://www.greigfarm.com/) on best practices of what to look for and how to pick them. Thanks for listening to Cidiot,…
Pride starts early in June across the Hudson Valley, Catskills and Berkshires. This episode I talk to Osun Zotique, executive director of OutHudson (https://outhudsonny.wordpress.com/) and the co-grand marshal of Hudson Pride. If you’re following the news, you may have also seen that Osun just announced a historic run for congress…