Occupy the Airwaves— Valley Free Radio

Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky interview our Occupy co-host Miranda Groux. Miranda discusses her evolution as an activist, from a questioning teenager to a thoughtful and engaged adult. Join us and learn more about the people behind the mics!

Ousmane Power-Greene joins Occupy the Airwaves cohosts Emikan Sudan, Stephen Linsky, and Linda Ziegenbein to discuss the film premiere of "Get a Mule, Forty Acres or So" and podcast recording of "Remind My Soul." Our conversation discusses the important role of Black land ownership to the Black Nationalist movement, the history of Black land dispossession, and this important documentary project to...

University of Massachusetts, Amherst students Diego Echeverri, Malie Geery, and Louis Waibel join Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Linda Ziegenbein, Miranda Groux, and Emikan Sudan to discuss how they are navigating this historical moment. They discuss some of the issues that are impacting them, what they are doing and thinking about, and where they get their inspiration.

Occupy the Airwaves welcomes Kendal Magnum and Amelia Durban, Northampton High School Seniors and members of the Northampton Youth Commission. Amelia and Kendal discuss the planning for Northampton's first annual Juneteenth Festival. This event, held from 11 am - 6 pm on June 6, 2026 at the E.J. Gare Plaza (2 Brewster Court) will honor Black liberation and freedom. It will be a celebration of the...

Nick Mottern from Demilitarize Western Massachusetts and Jennifer Scarlott of River Valley for Palestine join Occupy the Airwaves hosts Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, Emikan Sudan, and Bob Gardner to discuss Northampton military contractor L3 Harris and the movement to block these weapons of war. In a memorial action on April 29, 2026 for peace activist Paki Wieland, members blocked the driveway o...

Merri Ansara joins hosts Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, Emikan Sudan, and Bob Gardner to discuss the situation in Cuba, including the present blockage of aid and fuel, war threats from the U.S., solar initiatives, solidarity from organizations and countries and conditions on the ground. Merri has a long history of solidarity herself, with her early involvement with the Veneceremos brigade, Radio H...

Chris Ferry, Director of the Easthampton Film Festival, joins Occupy the Airwaves host Stephen Linsky to discuss the history and schedule of events for 5th Annual Easthampton Film Festival running from April 23rd-April 26th, 2026. This season included a total of 57 films, more than half of which were made by Massachusetts-based filmmakers. In addition to the screenings, this year’s festival includ...

Make Polluters Pay co-leader Rachael Boyce joins Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Miranda Groux, Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky to discuss the campaign to pass legislation establishing a superfund funded by the fossil fuel industry to offset the array of infrastructure needs required to address climate change-related conditions brought about by carbon emissions. Rachael also discusses important upcom...

UMass Economics Professor and internationally recognized scholar, Jayati Ghosh, joins Occupy the Airwaves co-hosts Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky to discuss the state of global economic inequality as revealed in a recent report of the G 20 co-authored by Professor Ghosh. A summary of Ghosh’s report can be found here .

Occupy the Airwaves sits down with all of our hosts, plus many of the friends, relatives and comrades of Paki Wieland to remember her extraordinary life, her achievements and her many fine qualities. Hosts include Linda Zigenbein, Miranda Groux, Emikan Sudan, Stephen Linsky and Bob Gardner. Our guests include Priscilla Lynch (CodePink), Crystal Zevon (Occupy Wall Street), Linda Gordon and Carolyn...

From the Occupy the Airwaves archives, enjoy our conversation with co-host Paki Weiland from 2023.  Occupy the Airwaves is grieving the passing of our cohost and friend. Paki was a dedicated activist whose energy for the causes she cared about and the people she loved was endless. She was a force in nearly all local movements and peace movements. Paki was a long-time member of an anti-nuclear arms...

Cohosts Bob Gardner and Miranda Groux sit down with Larry Hott, local award-winning documentary filmmaker, and co-founder of Florentine Films, to discuss the top five nominees for Academy Awards in the long and short-form documentary film category, and a few other favorites who didn't make the final cut.   Larry is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and as such, participa...

Host Stephen Linsky is joined by local author Ellen Merpool to discuss her latest novel, "Sometimes an Island," ahead of her reading at Broadside Books. Proceeds from book sales benefit Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts.   Ellen Meeropol is the author of the previous novels The Lost Women of Azalea Court, Her Sister's Tattoo, Kinship of Clover, On Hurricane Island, and House Arrest. Her wor...

State Representative from the First Hampshire District, Lindsay Sabadosa, joins cohosts Bob Gardner, Stephen Linsky, and Paki Wieland for a wide-ranging discussion. Topics included the state response to ICE and the possibility of a surge here, the impact of cuts to needed programs like SNAP and Medicaid, the Governor's new energy policies- including a ramp up of nuclear power, and Rep. Sabadosa's...

Join a conversation with Vicky Elson and Tim Wallis- speaking about nuclear weapons bans, the approach of midnight on the Doomsday Clock and what nations and organizations are doing about it. Please join Occupy hosts Paki Wieland, Steve Linsky and Bob Gardner for this important discussion. Visit nuclearban.us to learn more.

Mona, Natalia, and Ilene from the Easthampton Tenants Union join co-hosts Stephen Linsky and Miranda Groux for a conversation about the reality of renting in the valley. Hear what motivates them to organize, how they are building local power with their neighbors, and learn more about your rights as a tenant. Want to get involved in the Easthampton Tenants Union? Attend a meeting! Happening every T...

Join hosts Miranda Groux and Emikan Sudan for an insightful interview with Indigenous scholar and UMass professor emeritus Ron Welburn. Topics covered include the long history of the Indigenous population in North America and its lasting influence on the development of jazz and poetry.

Mary Anne Quiroz (Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center), Ryan Perez (community organizer), and Tomas (artist) from the Twin Cities, Minnesota join co-hosts Linda Ziegenbein, Miranda Groux, and Emikan Sudan to discuss what is happening in their communities, how they are supporting their communities in responding to increased engagement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and what we h...

Hosts Bob Gardner, Miranda Groux, Stephen Linsky, and Linda Ziegenbein welcome Pietra Adami from LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts. They discuss the work LUCE, a mostly volunteer- and immigrant-led organization, is doing in the Pioneer Valley and across Massachusetts to protect our immigrant friends and neighbors. Learn more about the LUCE Network and how to support at https://www.lu...

Occupy the Airwaves hosts Paki Wieland, Emikan Sudan and Stephen Linsky offered their final reviews of 2025, including their respective opinions on prospects for the 2026 mid-term elections and ongoing resistance efforts to rising right wing authoritarianism at home and abroad.

Occupy the Airwaves hosts review this year’s major events. Join Miranda Groux, Linda Ziegenbein, Emikan Sudan, Stephen Linsky and Bob Gardner as they offer their perspectives on what occurred in 2025, particularly in regard to developments relating to ICE, Gaza, Ukraine, Project 2025, Congress, the Courts and growing inequalities and budget cuts. The co-host panel also offer their opinions relatin...

Hosts Emikan Sudan, Paki Wieland, and Miranda Groux are thrilled to welcome Dr. Amilcar Shabazz back to Occupy the Airwaves. Dr. Shabazz shares the history and meaning of Kwanza, current celebrations in the valley, and how we can carry the spirit of Kwanza into our fights for justice and liberation in 2026.