MAPSO Podso

In the final episode of season 3, I talk with long time SOMSD music teacher Vern Miller. Before Vern arrived in our school district, he played bass in the 1960s garage band The Remains, who have achieved cult status in the rock world. In fact, they opened for The Beatles throughout their final U.S. tour. So we have a lot to talk about! Website: http://vernmiller.info

Friend of the show, Kevin O'Connor, is back for more! The "This Old House" host and Maplewood native returns to talk about the show's enduring legacy, the advancement of modern construction materials and preserving local landmarks. Plus, more of your listener questions! Thanks to Vinnie from The Roman Gourmet for introducing this episode.  Instagram: @kevinoconnortoh  Instagram: @THisOldHouse Inst...

Mason Toye is a South Orange native, who grew up playing Cougar Soccer, before becoming a star player at Seton Hall Prep. He's now a veteran of Major League Soccer, currently playing for Sporting Kansas City.  He joins me to talk about growing up in town, his MLS career and the battle over turf vs. grass. Photo: Courtesy of Sporting Kansas City www.mapsopodso.com Instagram: MapsoPodso

Maplewood resident Heath Brown is an expert on Presidential transitions. He joins me at the dining room table to talk about his latest book, Roadblocked -  an inside look at the transition from the first Trump White House to the Biden Presidency. Plus, he challenges my MAPSO/SOMA knowledge!  Bluesky: @heathbrown.bsky.social

Way before Sza and The Fugees, The Blades of Grass tore up Columbia High School! Their only album, The Blades of Grass Are Not For Smoking , was released in 1967 while they were still students - and resulted in a top 100 hit!  Singer/songwriter/guitar player Marc Black joins me to talk about the band's beginnings here in town, getting suspended from school and his enduring solo career.  Marc Black...

Maplewood resident Jackie Dubrovich won gold as part of the USA Fencing Team at last summer's Paris Olympics. She joins me at the dining room table to talk about the sport, making history at the games and her love of town.   Polaris Fencing Center: www.polarisfencing.com Instagram: @jackiedubrovich Instagram: @mapsopodso

Golfers, would you be surprised to learn that the modern tee was invented right here in town? It's true! Dr. William Lowell was a member of the Maplewood Country Club, where he tested his new creation. I get the full story from Elizabeth Beeck of the USGA Golf Museum!

Marc Morial served two terms as the youngest mayor of New Orleans before becoming president and CEO of National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization. The South Orange resident joins me at the dining room table to talk about growing up in NOLA, following in his father's footsteps, his MAPSO experience and much more. Instagram: @marcmorial Instagram: @mapsopodso 

South Orange native Joe Martinez spent four seasons pitching in the majors and now serves as MLB's Senior Director of On-Field Operations. He joins me to talk about his time on the mound, the league's latest rule changes and his days in South Orange/Maplewood town baseball. www.mapsopodso.com Instagram: @mapsopodso  

Naomi Soleil was the talk of the town when she competed on the latest season of NBC's The Voice. She joins me in the first episode of season three to talk about her Columbia High School experience, being picked for Team Buble' and her future in music.  Instagram: @naiomisoleil_ Instagram: MapsoPodso More info at www.mapsopodso.com  

I'm popping up for a quick holiday hello - and to solve a big Maplewood mystery about a classic Christmas film. Why is Maplewood, NJ mentioned in the 2004 film The Polar Express? Listen now to find out! Links:  Dickens Village https://maplewoodvillagenj.com/dickens-village   SOMSD Parenting Center & Rent Party Toy Drive https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/news/2024/11/19/toydrive Holiday Food Drive https:...

In the last episode of season two, I talk with Maplewood native Mihali, leader of the popular jam band Twiddle. The Columbia High School grad headlined Maplewoodstock as a solo artist in 2023 where he performed the song "Maplewood" from his album "Effection." We had a great chat about his music, going solo, his love of weed and his hometown - with shout outs to the Village Trattoria, Bagel Chateau...

We alll know that Bruce Springsteen is New Jersey's Greatest son! And you probably know that the Mighty Max Weinberg is a Columbia High School grad! But I was curious - in all his years of performing, has The Boss ever played a concert in our little towns?  With a little help, I explore some of the history of this area's music scene and try to stake a small claim to the Springsteen legend.  Thanks...

Before he was a bestselling author, James Kaplan wrote for the Columbia High School newspaper and spent countless hours devouring books at the South Orange Public Library.  In the years since, he wrote two definitive biographies of Frank Sinatra and collaborated with the likes of Jerry Lewis, John McEnroe and Henry Winkler on their "assisted memoirs." His new book, 3 Shades of Blue , explores the...

Jessica, a client at JESPY House in South Orange, is a 3 sport Special Olympics New Jersey athlete - competing in basketball, soccer and track & field. She joins me to talk about the daily challenges she faces, training for the Special Olympics and how JESPY has helped her live a full life in our community. Update: Since this interview, Jessica and her JESPY basketball teammates won bronze at Spec...

Four time Olympian Joetta Clark is a legend at 800 meters - an event that she never once lost as a member of the Columbia High School track team! The New Jersey and Columbia High Hall of Famer joins me to talk about mental toughness, the evolution of women's running and growing up in South Orange with her father Joe Clark - the Eastside High Principal that inspired the film Lean on Me.  She now si...

Fresh off of his long run as Alexander Hamilton on Broadway, Maplewood resident Miguel Cervantes is here for an in depth conversatoin about his past, present and future.  In the longest episode yet, we discuss all things Hamilton, the tragic loss of his daugther Adelaide to Epilepsy, his ties to MAPSO and his new business - Dingers NJ, an incredibly cool batting cage facility in Maplewood. And, of...

Your Seton Hall Pirates have won the 2024 NIT Championship! Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press joins me to recap the tournament and his trip to the finals in Indianapolis. Nobody knows New Jersey basketball better than this man! Follow Jerry on X at @NJHoopsHaven and read his latest columns at https://www.app.com/staff/2647567001/jerry-carino Seton Hall Basketball: https://shupirates.com/sports...

The crew of  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit called Joel de la Fuente "Mariano" for his ability to nail the final scene. The Maplewood actor comes by the house to close out the podcast for 2023 and chat about his decade long recurring role as technician Ruben Morales, his work on The Man in the High Castle and more! Also on the agenda: remembering Andre Braugher, TV vs. film acting, the new SAG...

While you're relaxing on the couch this Thanksgiving, Yosh Nijman will be clocking in for work! The Columbia High School grad and current offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers is heading to Detroit for a pre-turkey meeting with the Lions. But first, he joins me to talk Cougar football, becoming an "a-hole" on Sundays and his favorite slice at the Village Trat.  Thanks to Columbia High School...

I head over to the South Orange Elks lodge to hang out with Exalted Ruler Dan Pieraccini, who you may also know from the band Forget the Whale. We chat about the history and inner workings of the organization and the great things they do for the community. Plus, am I Elk material?  Thanks to local artist/Vietnam veteran B. John Kaufman, VFW Post 10120 Commander, for introducing this week's episode...

South Orange resident Michelle Miller is co-host of CBS Saturday Morning, the former first lady of New Orleans and author of the recent memoir, "Belonging: A Daughter's Search for Identity Through Loss and Love." In her lengthy visit to the dining room table, she opens up about her unconventional upbringing, making a home in Maplewood/South Orange and politely answers my questions about her husban...

It's a beautiful fall day to have Fox Weather meteorologist (and South Orange resident) Marissa Torres hang out at the dining room table. We cover a lot of ground including working her way up the broadcasting ladder from Grosse Pointe, MI to New York, the human factor in weather forecasting and our mutual love of The Order. How DOES Sheldon remember everyone's name?  Thanks to Jessica and Steph fr...

E on the Street! Eric stops by Seton Hall to try to catch a guest who has alluded MAPSO Podso - Seton Hall Men's Basketball Coach Shaheen Holloway! (Warning - E always gets his man - but he doesn't always have time to check audio levels!)

Influential poet Michael Lally invites me into his remote New York home to talk about one of his  earliest publications, "The South Orange Sonnets." Wearing his Words Bookstore shirt, he tells me about growing up in town as a "punk" in the 1940s, his second career as an actor and defining success and failure at the age of 81. And what actually makes a poem a poem?  Michael's latest book, "Another...