THE EAGLE: A Times Union Podcast

The award-winning children’s book author and illustrator teamed up for a new magical fairy tale about love, loss and a tiny girl’s quest to find her family. They join us on “The Eagle” this week, ahead of their book release and appearance at the Saratoga Book Festival. Also on this episode, comedian Zane Lamprey talks about standup, working with animals, and his Capital Region Roots. Learn more ab...

For the first time in a decade, we’ve brought on new writers to critique the dining scene in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. On this episode, Steve Barnes sits down with Stephanie Gravalese and Shannon Lee to talk memorable meals, restaurants, and the role of the food critic in an age of Yelp reviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Times Union columnist Chris Churchill explores an idea to pull all of the Capital Region under one municipal umbrella. Also on this episode, we debut a snippet of our new limited series true crime podcast, “The Girl in the Pond,” about the unsolved murder of Hazel Drew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emmy-, Oscar-, and Grammy-winning musician has a special bond with Saratoga Springs. He met his wife there, they visit family frequently, and in late August, he performed selections from his new album “Big Money” with the Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC. He joins Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Marshall on this episode of “The Eagle” to talk about the new album and his collaboration with Randy...

Edward Leon is facing federal arson and murder charges for setting the 2013 fire in Schenectady that killed David Terry and three of his children. His arrest came more than 12 years after the blaze, and if convicted, he could face the death penalty. On this episode of "The Eagle," we revisit the story, which up to this point had been one of the region's biggest unsolved cases. Also on this episode...

When Lego artist Nathan Sawaya fell in love with the bricks as a kid, he never imagined it could lead to a successful career. Yet here he is, building massive and complex Lego sculptures for a living. The traveling exhibit featuring his works, which include a giant T. Rex, is coming to Schenectady in August. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Sawaya joins Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Marshall to...

New York State Police issued an Amber Alert early Sunday morning for a 9-year-old girl thought to have been abducted in a white van along I-87 near Lake George, New York. Less than 24 hours later, the girl’s body was found an hour north, and her father Luciano Frattolin had been arrested for her murder. On this episode of “The Eagle,” we’ll delve into our reporting on the case, and discuss the lat...

The U.S. Justice Department appointed John A. Sarcone III as first assistant district attorney of New York’s Northern District this week, which effectively makes him the region’s top prosecutor, at least temporarily. The move comes after a panel of federal judges declined to appoint him to the role permanently. Times Union Editor Casey Seiler and Managing Editor Brendan Lyons discuss the appointme...

David Wain and Ken Marino are names you may recognize from their many movie and TV credits, including the “Wet Hot American Summer” franchise, “The Residence” on Netflix, and MTV’s ‘90s sketch comedy show “The State.” Their latest venture is something a little different—they formed a garage band during the pandemic, and their jam session videos took off on YouTube. Now, “Middle Aged Dad Jam Band”...

Democrats Dorcey Applyrs and Zohran Mamdani had decisive victories in the contentious Albany and New York City mayoral primaries on June 24. Times Union editor Casey Seiler, columnist Chris Churchill and reporter Steve Hughes discuss the biggest surprises about the results, and the implications of those wins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A news anchor went viral last week when she delivered the news while in labor with her first child. The Times Union’s Kristi Gustafson Barlette discusses that story and recent others in the local TV news industry. Also on this episode, Hudson Valley reporter Maria Silva talks about the remarkable life story of the owner of Kingston’s oldest Chinese restaurant. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

In April 2025, Keri Mazzuca was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 1997 death of her newborn, whose remains she left in Washington Park. The case of Baby Moses had been unsolved for decades before DNA analysis in 2024 identified Mazzuca as the mother. Prosecutors released video of her 2024 confession to police this week. On this episode, Managing Editor Brendan Lyons speaks with former Albany...

On the night of May 2, 2024, police forcibly removed an encampment of students, faculty and community members protesting the war in Gaza at SUNY New Paltz. It was the largest encampment clearing on a state university campus, and 130 people were arrested. Four student journalists reported on the events of that night for the school’s newspaper, The Oracle. On this episode of they join the Times Unio...

Times Union business reporter Larry Rulison had a way more exciting week than you. He joins us this week on “The Eagle” to discuss his epic triumph on an episode of “Family Feud” that aired Tuesday. Also on this episode, our features editor Gary Hahn looks back on his impressive four-decade career with the paper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News that a biotechnology company is claiming to have brought back the long-extinct dire wolf got us thinking about creatures that used to roam upstate New York. Times Union reporter H. Rose Schneider joins us to talk about those critters, which include 8-foot-tall beavers, 10-foot-tall sloths, and some very dapper-looking waterfowl. Also on this episode, Capitol Confidential’s Dan Clark and Capit...

This week, two local actors join us on the show to celebrate the Bard of Avon's 461st birthday. Also, education reporter Kathleen Moore discusses the latest shake up in the Capital Region higher education scene: the announcement that The Albany College of Pharmacy and Russell Save College intend to merge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The judge declared a mistrial after a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous decision in the trial of Edward Holley, the Middletown man accused of murdering 20-year-old Megan McDonald in 2003. Times Union reporter Lana Bellamy was in court every day of the 7-week trial, and joins us to go over how it all went down. Also on this episode, Capitol Confidential’s Dan Clark sits down with New York State Budge...

While it’s rare, there are thousands of documented incidents of surgeons leaving items inside patients’ bodies by accident each year in the United States. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Times Union reporter Emilie Munson talks about her recent investigative work looking into these medical errors, and how doctors and hospitals are trying to avoid them. Also on this episode, we’ll hear an addiction...

Jamie Sullivan is one of 10 woman drivers on the current Monster Jam circuit, driving the popular pastel-hued, unicorn-shaped monster truck Sparkle Smash. She joins us on this episode of “The Eagle” to talk about driving up interest in the sport for women, and what it’s like to be behind the wheel of her truck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much of what we’re throwing in our single-stream recycling bins is actually recycled? Turns out, only 5% to 6% of plastic used in the United States gets recycled. Times Union reporter Lucy Hodgman joins us on this episode of “The Eagle” to share what she learned after a recent visit to an Albany recycling facility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olympic Champion figure skater and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton joins us on this episode of “The Eagle” to look back 45 years at his first Olympic experience in Lake Placid, to discuss the state of figure skating today, and to talk about his efforts to raise money for cancer research to improve the lives of patients going through life-saving treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

A cult-like group of ultra-rationalist vegans is now connected to five deaths across the country. On this episode, we attempt to unravel the bizarre and convoluted story of the Zizians. Also on this episode, our in-house movie buffs make their Oscar predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Kathy Hochul has decided not to remove New York Mayor Eric Adams from his elected office, despite the mounting pressure to do so after the U.S. District Attorney dismissed his federal corruption charges this month. Meanwhile, she is fighting to save controversial congestion pricing, putting her at increasing odds with the president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

Former local news anchor Anne McCloy left the business in 2023 after two decades in news. Two years later, she’s got a new perspective on life that she’s eager to share with the world. On this episode of “The Eagle,” she joins the Times Union’s Kristi Gustafson Barlette for an update. Also, we’ll go over the latest in education news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reporter Kelsey Brown gives us a download on local business news, including her thoughts on the much-anticipated return of Stewart’s cult classic beer Mountain Brew, and trouble with Albany's Lark Street Business Improvement District. Also on this episode, editor Casey Seiler and managing editor Brendan Lyons discuss the fate of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik’s seat in Congress.  Learn more about your a...