Princeton Podcast

In our 50th episode of the Princeton Podcast our producer, Ken Greenberg, acted as host to Mayor Mark Freda.   Ken and Mark reflected on the  past, present and future of the Princeton Podcast. They noted the variety of the remarkable Princetonians who have been guests on the Princeton Podcast during the past two and a half years since the podcast was launched. Ken asked Mark about his assessment o...

In episode 49 of the Princeton Podcast, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Rebecca FrancoMartin, Executive Director of People and Stories, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing literature to new audiences through oral readings and discussions of enduring short stories. Rebecca described the various People and Stories programs developed to reach youth, adults, and s...

In Episode 48 of the Princeton Podcast, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed James Demetriades, Penn Medicine Princeton Health CEO. James discussed the history of the Princeton Medical Center and its move from downtown Princeton to its current location on Route 1 allowing for its expansion to serve nearly 60,000 patient visits per year. James also reviewed the expanded services n...

In Episode 47 of the Princeton Podcast, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Bart Bronk, Head of School at Hun School of Princeton. Bart describes Hun's rich history, founded by John Gale Hunn, a former Princeton professor, with a focus on individual mentorship. Bart details the school's mission to foster resilient character and joyful learning in students, preparing them...

In Episode 46 of the Princeton Podcast, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Isaac Kremer, the Executive Director of Experience Princeton, our Special Improvement District (SID) here in Princeton. Isaac discussed the establishment and development of the Special Improvement District, emphasizing its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic as a crucial response to support local busi...

In Episode 45 of the Princeton Podcast, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Liliana Morenilla, the founder and current board chairman of Princeton Mobile Food Pantry. Liliana discussed how she started Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, their current activities and goals, and the necessity of donations and volunteers to meet their demand.  Princeton Mobile Food Pantry serves and suppo...

In Episode 44 of the Princeton Podcast, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed David Nirenberg, the Director of the Institute for Advanced Study, serving as a model for protecting and promoting independent inquiry and the importance of academic freedom worldwide. David Nirenberg described the Institute's illustrious history, and its mission of assembling groups of scientists an...

In Episode 43, our Princeton Podcast host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Marna Seltzer, the Artistic and Executive Director at Princeton University Concerts, whose mission is to educate, challenge, inspire, and unite audiences through the presentation of exceptional classical musicians. Marna discussed Princeton University Concerts history of more than a century at the university, its mission to conn...

In Episode 42 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed David Keddie, founder of Walkable Princeton. Founded in 2013 to raise awareness of issues relating to zoning and the built environment in Princeton, Walkable Princeton is an independent group that advocates a positive vision for Princeton’s future, taking full advantage of Smart Growth principles adapted to our community,...

In episode 41 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Julia Wall, Head of School at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart - a leading Preschool to Grade 12 private school in Princeton designed just for girls. In addition to discussing Stuart's mission to educate young women to a life of leadership and service, Julia described how Stuart is uniquely positioned to...

In episode 40 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed J. Robert Hillier, one of the leading and most highly-respected architects in the United States, known for having built one of the largest and most successful architecture firms in the world.  Robert Hillier, or Bob as he prefers, is the founder of Hillier Architecture and now Principal at Studio Hillier here in Princeton...

In episode 39 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Adrian Colarusso, a Board Member of the Friends of Herrontown Woods, Princeton’s first dedicated nature preserve. In addition to discussing the history of Herrontown Woods and the founding of the Friends of Herrontown Woods, Adrian described its mission and vision to restore and maintain the preserve’s trails and flora; t...

In episode 38 of the Princeton Podcast host, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Mimi Omiecinski, the Owner of Princeton Tour Company, offering Princeton residents and visitors historic walking tours, bus tours, ghost hunts, team building experiences, re-enactments, and more. In addition to discussing her background and the development of Princeton Tour Company over the past 16 years, Mimi also d...

In episode 37 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed David Fox, the Executive Director of Arm In Arm. Formerly known as The Crisis Ministry, this non-profit organization was founded in 1980 by leaders of Nassau Presbyterian Church and Trinity Church here in Princeton to help community members who were struggling financially. Now, for the past 4 decades, Mercer County famili...

In Episode 36 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Sarah Rasmussen, the new Artistic Director of the McCarter Theatre Center . In addition to discussing her role as the Artistic Director of McCarter Theatre, Sarah described McCarter’s Theatre Series of original productions, including 'Blues For An Alabama Sky', McCarter’s current production written by Pearl Cleage...

In Episode 35 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Jill Barry, Executive Director of Morven Museum and Garden. In addition to discussing Morven’s role in the history of our nation, as well as Princeton for the past 250 years, Jill described Morven museum’s permanent collection suite of galleries that tells the story of everyone that lived and worked on this National Histo...

In episode 34 of the Princeton Podcast our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Jon Bucchere, Princeton Police Chief. In addition to discussing Chief Bucchere’s lifelong involvement with the Princeton community, Mark and Jon discussed the evolution of policing here in Princeton from Jon’s 24-year history as a member of the Princeton Police Department . A lot has changed to keep Princeton at the forefr...

In episode 33 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, welcomed Leighton Newlin, Princeton Councilman. In addition to discussing Leighton’s assignments on the council’s Affordable Housing Board, Corner House Board, Historic Preservation Committee, and Princeton’s Housing Authority Board, Mark and Leighton discussed their lifelong experience and observations of the challenges and oppor...

In episode 32 of the Princeton Podcast our host, Mayor Mark Freda, sat down with James Steward, the Director of the Princeton University Art Museum. James Steward joined the Princeton University Art Museum as its director in April 2009 and since that time has expanded the Museum’s program of exhibitions and educational activities as well as its open hours and outreach efforts on campus and through...

In episode 31 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, caught up with Mathew Stiff, Chief of the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad. In addition to discussing Matt’s background and 15-year experience with the squad, Mark and Matt discussed the history of the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad from its beginnings back in 1939. Matt described the squads’ new facility, its skille...

In episode 30 of the Princeton Podcast, our host, Mayor Mark Freda, sat down with Princeton Councilman David Cohen. In addition to discussing David’s background and his assignments on a variety council committees, Mark and David touched on the recently revised set of permit parking regulations, as well as many other challenges and rewards David experienced during his past five years as a Princeton...

In Episode 29 of the Princeton Podcast, Mayor Mark Freda caught up with Dr. Aly Cohen, Integrative Rheumatologist, Author, Speaker, Community Educator, Podcaster, and founder of The Smart Human - an organization designed to inform the public about environmental health concerns and practical solutions to help minimize chemical exposures.   Aly discussed her educational background, as well as her co...

In Episode 28 of the Princeton Podcast, with Mayor Mark Freda caught up with Aubrey Haines, a Board Member of the Princeton Business Partnership, a recently created non-profit organization structured as a Special Improvement District whose mission is to shape, maintain and grow flourishing Princeton commercial districts by offering an exceptional experience for residents and visitors.   The creati...

In Episode 27 of the Princeton Podcast, Mayor Mark Freda sat down with Jeanette Timmons, a Board Member of Cornerstone Community Kitchen , a Princeton based non-profit organization that provides nourishing meals, free of charge, in a welcoming setting that affirms the dignity of all those who gather.   Jeanette also discussed other Cornerstone Community Kitchen programs including their free clothi...

In Episode 26 of the Princeton Podcast, Mayor Mark Freda sat down with Dave Errickson, the Executive Director of Corner House Behavioral Health, a Princeton non-profit organization working to prevent and treat alcohol and drug addiction by engaging and supporting youth, adults, and families in life-long healthy living and recovery. In addition to reviewing the treatment and prevention services off...