Off Air with Slater

This episode features Lee, MA legend Josh Cohen who opened up Moe's Tavern in 2007. The idea was a craft beer bar with a focus on micro brews - certainly not domestics like Coors Light. In fact, it became so well known that Moe's did not serve the Golden, CO staple, that Moe's website was nocoorslight.com Well, hell has frozen over because in 2026, they now offer it. Join us as we talk about the c...

Season 2 launches with Evan Valenti of Steven Valenti's Clothing for Men as the podcast shifts its focus entirely to Pittsfield and the Berkshires. Valenti addresses the current challenges facing North Street businesses, particularly concerns related to the homeless population downtown. The conversation covers emerging trends in men's fashion and fragrances, the store's decision to expand into wom...

This episode features 7th degree Karate black belt Connie Flynn—also a 2nd degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and certified in Sitodyong Muay Thai—as she reveals the unfiltered truth about martial arts training. As the owner of Zenquest Martial Arts in Massachusetts, Connie draws from decades of experience to answer all your biggest questions: Does martial arts truly build unbreakable confidence? How...

Nicole Ferry spent 12 years as a CSX Railroad Police officer—one of the most dangerous jobs nobody talks about—where every 3 hours in America someone is hit by a train, and she saw the aftermath up close. From chasing armed thieves across moving freight trains and protecting the President’s rail route, to watching a colleague take his own life on duty, being tricked into 140-day rehab for “addicti...

We pivot a bit for episode 28 - Marjo, for the first time since the movie's release 40 years ago, has watched "Back To The Future". The main takeaway? She has the hots for George McFly! (has anyone ever said this?) We break down the most uncomfortable love story in movie history, and we ask the biggest question of all: Is Biff Tannen a villain the world would still tolerate today?

This episode features Adam Graney, an AI tool expert. Enjoy as we break down the AI landscape - from ChatGPT vs Claude to the creepy FRIEND bracelet that wants to be your companion. Then we tackle what Elon Musk and Joe Rogan got right (and wrong) about AI taking jobs and universal income and more.

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Maddalena, a retired detective lieutenant with an accomplished 28-year career on the force. He opens up about his journey in law enforcement, the reasons behind his early retirement and the emotional weight he still carries today. Mike also talks about what it’s like working in law enforcement in today's evolving world. Then, we shift gears a bit to learn abo...

In this episode, our own Marjo Catalano recounts in detail a horrifying situation that has haunted her for years. In 2003, after being let into her apartment in the wee hours of the morning, her upstairs neighbor, in a botched robbery attempt, stabbed her roommate multiple times. Ronald Kyse was ultimately arrested for the crime, served 22 years in prison and was released last year. 

This episode features Clayton Cowdrey, a 19 year-old U.S. Marine, who recently graduated from boot camp in Parris Island. Cowdrey was injured during infantry school, became depressed and made the mistake of being honest about it - so they kicked him out. He gets candid about his experience, how he handled boot camp, became an expert rifleman, and what the hit Netflix show "Boots" gets right and wr...

This episode features Mig Girard, a mother of three and a small business owner with her husband in Massachusetts. Girard, a native of Puerto Rico, moved to the U.S. mainland when she was an adolescent with her mother and siblings to avoid their abusive father. This is her story of growing up in poverty, having a tenacious drive to learn English, assimilate, become successful, join the military and...

Robbie Bernardo was 10 years-old when he was told by his parents that he'd probably never see his brother again after he disappeared in October of 1990 from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Bernardo's brother, Jimmy, was abducted, assaulted, and murdered by child serial killer Lewis Lent, who is spending the rest of his life in prison. Robbie recounts that fateful day, how life was for he and his family...

This episode features Kyler Schelling, the showrunner for two popular podcasts featuring former New England Patriots players Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. "Games With Names" and "Dudes on Dudes" are available on all platforms - Schelling, a graduate of Emerson College in Boston who now resides in L.A., tells us the story on how he got connected with the NFL, Edelman, Gronk, Brady, and more. E...

Brendon Tomasi liked to party and would occasionally experience black outs when he was a younger man, but it was his experience with psychedelic drugs that was profound. After consuming ayahuasca in 2009, Tomasi's life was forever changed. In this episode, Brendon, who is now sober, takes you through his journey which ultimately led to helping other men find better mental health.

This episode features Shonda Evette, a bartender, dancer, and model who grew up in Brooklyn, NY. We talk about her early days on Tinder before she was engaged to be married, online dating culture as a whole, creepy guys at bars, the massive difference between living in Brooklyn and Western MA, how important looks are, being photographed, a mindset changing bar fight and more! Enjoy.

We speak with Carey Hescock on this episode - the mother of a 25-year-old man who lost his life suddenly in 2022. Hescock's son, Jake, was a D1 football player for UCF who ultimately decided to pivot into the financial sector when he dropped dead during a routine morning jog in Boston, MA. Carey shares her heartbreaking story of her beloved son, cardiac arrest instances in young people, and her co...

This episode features Chad Hare, a former morning radio DJ from Colorado. Hare is also pursuing a career in stand-up comedy and is celebrating six years of sobriety. We talk a lot about FM radio - what it was and what it is now - in terms of influence as well as the technical side of it. Hare, who resembles a combination of Pete Davidson and Steve Buscemi, jokes about the benefits of being bi-raci...

In this episode we feature an old friend who's an acclaimed children's author - Ty Allan Jackson. We discuss the best rapper of all time, Drake and Kendrick, pop music, the power and influence of podcasters and comedians, Cracker Barrel, Target, and more. Plus, we get into Ty's nationally recognized book, "Make Your Own Money", and it's empowering result.

Tucker Hartmann is madly in love with football - and playing it changed his life. It gave him perspective, taught him discipline, and taught him how to learn to deal with the reality of how far he could personally make it playing the sport. Not being able to play D-1, he now runs and camp called Ascension Elite Football Camp in Massachusetts. Hartmann trains kids to become the best they can be at...

This episode features Tom Nadolny, a firearms instructor and gun enthusiast from Western Massachusetts. Nadolny has taught many firearm classes over the years and knows the law well. Nadolny explains who should own a gun and who should not - as well as some good law reminders. Tom loves a good thrill and a Corvette lover, to boot. Would he ever go electric?

This episode features Milton Gasson Jr. (Buddy), a tenured barber from Pittsfield, MA. Buddy learned how to cut hair when he was incarcerated as a young man. Buddy gets candid about how he landed in prison, what he learned about life behind bars and how it shaped him. Buddy also shares his thoughts on monogamy, AI, and whether we are living in the matrix.

This episode features Dana Connor, a somatic therapist from Colorado. Connor grew up in Western Massachusetts with co-host Marjo and became close friends. Dana gets candid about her early partying days, difficult relationships growing up, her subsequent move to Colorado, and living outdoors to find spirituality and gain empowerment. She now counsels mainly women who strive to find themselves in be...

This episode features Mike Fazio, a financial advisor from Greylock Federal Credit Union in Western Massachusetts. Fazio is nearly 18 years sober from drugs and alcohol and has adopted a super disciplined way of life including working out 7 days a week . His addiction started with food as a child and quickly progressed to alcohol later on in life. Enjoy as Fazio explains his road to sobriety and h...

This episode features Craig Spencer-Hopkins, a Gen Z professional wedding DJ and entertainment company owner. Spencer-Hopkins speaks on mental health and addiction tendencies as well as his trip to Kenya for some charity work when he was just 21. We all share differing opinions on Coldplaygate, which people tend to be more racist, and lastly find out whether Marjo is taking Ozempic. Enjoy.

This episode features Paul Procopio, owner and operator of Primo Products. Procopio has recently designed tee shirts for some Boston Red Sox players including Jarren Duran and Romy Gonzalez. He goes into how he built the business and brand and what his current relationship looks like with the Red Sox. We also have some fun talking about drip culture and his uncle's armored truck heist in 1991.

This episode features Katie Smegal, a mother of two in the middle of mitigating divorce. Katie goes into detail about her three week stay at a mental health facility, what meds work for her, what she's learned about being "counter dependent", and her love of photo dumping on social media. It sounds serious, but this is a fun episode to watch. Enjoy.