Correct me if I'm Norm

his week's guests are husband and wife: one helps youth who are just starting in life and the other helps those who are further along life's path. One is boss of his own company and the other is boss of Rhinebeck Rotary. Norm welcomes Erika and Mark Murphy. Mark is the founder of Grip Tape (griptape.org), a nonprofit that helps teenagers find purpose and agency by handing them the keys. No applica...

Norm chats with filmmaker Andy Tennant, a dancer turned writer turned director who studied under the legendary John Houseman at USC, about moving from Chicago and Los Angeles to Rhinebeck, influenced by his wife, daughter, East Coast kids, and the Los Angeles fires. Tennant discusses raising triplets plus a fourth child while working internationally, then recounts the turbulent production of Anna...

Norm sits down with Alex Hannaford, a London-born, dual U.S.-U.K. citizen journalist who covers America for foreign publications and whose writing has taken him from the death rows of Texas to the pubs of east London. Rhinebeck's own, Hannaford traces his path into journalism through a gap year teaching sailing and an internship at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where he found his voic...

On Norm's birthday episode, guest David Hoffman looks back on a life shaped by curiosity and reinvention. He recalls early radio days in high school, studying engineering at Case Western, earning a third-class FCC license in Detroit, and landing at Vassar, where he fell in love with both '60s music and the college's carrier-current station. From there, Hoffman found his way into filmmaking, includ...

This week's guest is coming up on her 25 year anniverary at the helm of one of my favorite restaurants, Gigi Trattoria, which she co-founded in 2001. She's a dietician/ entrepreneur an absolute delight: Laura Pensiero. Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Send comments to comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Norm sits down with Charles Derbyshire, who shares the story behind pronouncing his surname, his upbringing in Huntington, West Virginia, and reflections on the region’s hardship, opioids, and shifting economy centered on education and healthcare. He talks about Marshall University family ties, Appalachian identity, Hatfield lineage, and how his accent changed after years of acting training. The c...

Norm welcomes back Monique Segarra, a Bard Center for Environmental Policy professor just returned from Oaxaca, to share a mezcal from a small-batch palenque as they dig into agave's long growth cycles, industrial production, and what sustainability actually means for Oaxacan producers. Segarra, who has spent a decade doing field-based work with graduate students in the region, discusses water man...

Norm welcomes Dr. Amy Novatt, OB-GYN, and Marybeth Cale, a national board certified health and wellness coach, to discuss integrative approaches to midlife health, with a focus on perimenopause and menopause. They explore how coaching complements conventional medicine by addressing whole-person wellbeing across life domains, using tools like a "wellness wheel" to support self-discovery and actiona...

Norm sits down with Rhinebeck's own Jaime Ransome, an educator, former adjunct professor, gallery manager, and one of the most compelling curators working in the Hudson Valley today. They talk family, feminism, and a life in the art world. Jaime explains her middle name (Ernestina), shares stories about her grandparents, and traces the through-line connecting spirituality, the moon, and feminist t...

This Valentine's Day, Norm welcomed the cutest couple in Rhinebeck to "Correct Me If I'm Norm": Ally and John Traver, who've been part of each other's lives since kindergarten. They dated in middle and high school, lost touch for years, then found each other again on Facebook in college. Married now for 16 years, they have two sons, Charlie (6) and Dave (2.5). They chat about growing up in Rhinebe...

In this episode of 'Correct Me If I'm Norm,' host Norm sits down with author Emma Tourtelot to discuss her latest book, 'No One, You Know.' They delve into Emma's book tour experiences, the inspiration behind her mother-daughter narrative, her creative process, and the role of grief and consciousness explored in her novel. Emma also shares stories from her past as a sex and relationship columnist...

n this episode of 'Correct Me If I'm Norm,' host Norm sits down with Victor Britton, a retired teacher with a fascinating journey from engineering to teaching physics. They discuss Victor's early career, his transition into education, and life growing up. Victor shares personal stories, including his struggles and triumphs, and the support from his wife Diane that helped him find his passion for t...

Norm sits down with the one and only Misty Decker - singer, mother of two, tireless booster of Rhinebeck schools, beer aficionado, COBOL evangelist, and mainframe modernization expert known as "Darth Misty the Mainframe Sith." They kick things off with a cocktail recipe from Cooper's Daughter distillery, then dive into Misty's journey from math major to her current role at Kyndryl, where she consu...

Join Norm in conversation with Joan Berland, a former teacher with over three decades of experience, including at CLS in Rhinebeck. Together with her husband Warren, they discuss Joan's unique teaching methods, her work inspired by the book 'Brain Gym,' and a transformational classroom experience that reached global recognition. Joan also shares stories from her varied teaching career—from Charlot...

Norm talks with Dave Leonard, Rhinebeck-based podcast host of 'Hudson Valley Unleashed,' DJ, business owner, dedicated family man, and truly amazing friend who just ran his first NYC Marathon. Dave traces his path from college radio at Denison through creating the 'Unleashed' format and building his own DJ business. The conversation gets personal as Dave opens up about surviving a near-fatal car a...

Norm chats with Debbie Hecht as she shares her journey into local politics, her recent election to the Rhinebeck Town Board, and her dedication to community activism. A knitter, teacher of knitting, mom and dog mom with a PhD in Classics from Columbia University, Debbie discusses how she co-founded BeckHook Pride and her experiences growing up in New York City during pivotal moments in LGBTQ histo...

Join Norm for a conversation with Mickey Haggerty and Suzanne Kelly, fixtures at the Rhinebeck Farmer's Market where they sell saffron, turmeric, and other crops raised on their Green Owl Farm. They discuss how Mickey, a retired trust and estates attorney and the farm's official "farm hand," connected with Suzanne, author and retired professor who serves as "owner and grower," when he helped her p...

Norm welcomes Sam Simon, host of the new podcast " Technocracy for Dummies " and a Bard art history major specializing in experimental humanities. Sam explains the evolution of technocracy from its origins as a vision of scientific governance to today's reality of tech billionaires wielding unprecedented power over government and society. Norm delves into Sam’s interest in avant-garde art and the...

Norm is joined by Rhinebeck's own Adele Abide. Raised in the Mississippi Delta as a Lebanese-American, Adele shares her journey of culture shock upon arriving at the Rhode Island School of Design to study fashion. She reflects on creating her own line of dresses, transitioning to become creative director at a garden furniture company, and eventually establishing an interior decorating firm alongsi...

Norm sits down with Sheri Sceroler, a dynamic presence in the Hudson Valley who brings Louisiana charm to upstate New York. For 26 years, Sheri has made the region home, zipping around town on her bike or in her vintage MG convertible complete with racing number, playing competitive tennis, and building a thriving real estate career in Rhinebeck. Hailing from a culinary family in Baton Rouge, Sher...

Norm welcomes Lara Gillett, whose remarkable journey took her from Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to the Hudson Valley by way of UC Irvine, Wharton, Wall Street, and corporate America. Now a leadership and empowerment coach, Lara shares her stories from including her background in financial services, her transition into corporate consulting, and her current work helping others develop emot...

Norm welcomes back Karen Sullivan, the Irma Brandeis Professor of Romance Literature and Culture at Bard College, to explore the history and traditions of Halloween. They discuss its pagan origins in Ireland, the lore of fairy folk, and the essential Celtic holidays. Professor Sullivan shares insights on the Salem Witch Trials, examining the cultural and historical forces behind the hysteria and i...

Norm talks with Michele Linnen, who left Rhinebeck in the 1960s and went on to live in D.C., the U.K., France, Germany, and Honduras. She's worked for the Peace Corps, for two U.S. senators, and as a child therapist. Michele shares her remarkable journey, from finding inspiration in Gertrude Stein's legendary Paris salon to forging her own path across continents. Now back in Rhinebeck, she hosts S...

Norm welcomes author, illustrator, teacher, and all-around artistic badass, Peter McCarty. He's written and/or illustrated dozens of books and won all the awards. They discuss his latest graphic novel and magnum opus, 'The Five Wolves.' They explore Peter's creative journey from children's picture books to complex graphic novels, discussing artistic inspiration, the decades-long process behind his...

Norm welcomes dancer and choreographer Kati Garcia-Renart for an conversation about flamenco, family heritage, and the transformative power of dance. Kati opens up about her formative years training in Spain, her work as a dance instructor at Simons Rock, and the rich historical legacy that shapes her artistic practice. Kati and Norm explore flamenco's cultural roots and evolution, touching on the...