Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City

For our next episode, we welcome creator, artist, and writer Kate Glasheen for a conversation on growing up in the Collar City, their early work on several of the biggest properties in entertainment (including Star Wars, The Walking Dead, Terminator, Indiana Jones, and Batman), and where their interest in drawing and art began. We also explore Kate's award-winning graphic novel Constellations set...

The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall —the iconic music venue in downtown Troy—is the subject of a new WMHT documentary titled “The Music Hall: Troy NY’s Monument to Sound” which premieres in May 2026. Host John Salka is joined byJon Elbaum, executive director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and senior producer Matt Rogowicz from WMHT, to discuss what went into pulling this documentary together ah...

In March 1986, city manager John P. Buckley wanted to bypass the civil service list to appoint his preferred candidate for fire chief. What happened next? We revisit a closed door meeting at city hall between Buckley and three potential candidates to lead Troy’s fire department, and the decision by one officer to go public with the request. This special archive spotlight episode uses reporting fro...

On January 27, 1996, the legendary Ozzy Osbourne rolled into the Collar City for a headlining concert at the RPI Houston Field House. Ahead of the 30th anniversary of Ozzy’s first and only performance in Troy, asked fans to contribute memories for a special retrospective looking back at this exciting moment in Troy’s heavy metal history—and you didn’t disappoint! The triple bill of Osbourne, Korn,...

We planned to release our new episode looking back at the thrilling performance from The Prince of Darkness in the Collar City. However, a personal emergency delayed our post-production schedule. We’re obviously disappointed, but still plan to bring this new episode to you soon. However, we didn’t want to let this anniversary pass by unrecognized. A few weeks ago, we reached out to Troy’s city cou...

Four letters. One syllable. TROY. On January 5th, 1789, a group of settlers living in an area known as Vanderhyden gathered at a local tavern. The purpose? To select a new name for their fledgling community along the Hudson River.  Notes: City Kicks Off Bicentennial Celebration ( Spectrum News ) How Troy, NY Got Its Name ( YouTube ) The Architecture of Downtown Troy, An Illustrated History Hart Cl...

In this episode, we discuss the art of presidential speechwriting with Cody Keenan, who served 8 years in the Obama White House. Author of the New York Times bestselling book “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America," Cody shares his insights on writing an effective speech, the challenges facing the Obama administration in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and the collab...

In 2016, the fate of Troy's firefighters union contract was saved by the last-minute arrival of former Troy councilmember Lynn Kopka, thanks to a little help from then-Troy Democratic Committee chairwoman Carole Weaver. Notes: Spectrum News: Budget Battle Begins with Fire­fighter Contract https://spectrumlocalnews.com/news/2016/10/13/troy-budget-battle-begins-with-firefighter-union-contract-propos...

We're thrilled to host Scott Womer, songwriter, musician, event producer and founder of Song City , a creative venture focused on the local songwriting community which kicks off their fourth season in the Collar City on September 9, 2025. During the episode, we discuss Scott's life growing up in the Capital Region, working in Nashville in the Christian music industry in the 1990s and early 2000s (...

Listened to the radio during the last 37 years? Then it's likely you've heard the voice of Ralph Renna transmitting across the airwaves. In this episode, the WABY DJ and singer/songwriter shares his memories of growing up in Troy, life in the Capital Region's hardcore music scene, and his encyclopedic knowledge of heavy music. Watch the video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_p2ooJHYV6w From h...

On June 16, 2025, Troy’s city council gathered at city hall in the historic Hedley Building, located along New York's iconic Hudson River in upstate New York, to consider legislation which allows the city to borrow money for investments in Troy’s fire department. While the council ultimately approved nearly all the borrowing requests that evening, Troy's mayor Carmella Mantello decided to single o...

Millions of metal fans celebrated the final live performance of Ozzy Osbourne during the "Back to the Beginning” global concert event this summer. The celebration culminated with the last-ever reunion of Black Sabbath's original lineup of Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, and drummer Bill Ward. But, did you know Ozzy's first short-lived "retirement" in the 1990s ended with a m...

On the evening of June 5, 2025, Troy's city council held a symbolic vote on the annual resolution recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. For many reasons, this year's vote had a heightened sense of importance for Troy's LGBTQ+ community and allies from across the Collar City and Capital Region, including a local councilmember's opposition to the resolution which drew the attention of residents and advoca...

In this episode, we take a closer look at the life and accomplishments of Garnet Douglass Baltimore, one of Troy's most famous Black citizens. Baltimore, a civil engineer and landscape architect, was the first Black graduate of RPI (1881) and designed Troy's Prospect Park.  Many thanks to Suzanne Spellen for sharing her research and archive of materials for this episode. Episode Notes: Spellen of...

Co-owner of the The Pickle, Collectiveffort, and Upstate’s Cold Brew, Jamel Mosely walks us through his decision to purchase a bar and music venue in downtown Troy, landing the front cover of Metroland Now, and the twists and turns that shaped his long career in multimedia, production and entertainment. We also explore his decision to leave the corporate world behind and become his own boss, along...

In this extended interview clip, Eric Haskins—RPI graduate (Class of '91) and WRPI's DJ Toast —recalls seeing local act Attica open for Slayer, and seeing the Def Jam tour at the Field House in 1987 featuring Public Enemy, Eric B. and Rakim, Whodini, and LL Cool J. Hear Eric's full interview here . Listen to Part 1 with Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Stigmata) Listen to Part 2 with Kevin O’Connell B...

This episode we welcome guest Eric Haskins—RPI graduate (Class of '91) and WRPI's DJ Toast —to revisit Metallica’s first and only concert at the RPI Field House on March 15, 1989. Haskins worked as a student security guard for countless concerts at the Field House, including Metallica's headlining show as a 19 year-old heavy metal fan. During the episode, Eric takes listeners through the weeks lea...

Eric Haskins—RPI Class of ‘91–recalls his time as a security guard while a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his backstage encounter with the metal legends that resulted in a special keepsake from the show in Troy, New York, on March 15, 1989. Listen to Part 1 with Jason Bittner Listen to Part 2 with Jason O’Connell See the full concert video at troystorypod.com/metallica Credits: P...

Part two of our retrospective on Metallica 's first and only concert in Troy, New York, at RPI's Houston Field House. Then 14 year-old Kevin O'Connell saw the heavy metal icons during their Damaged Justice tour when it rolled into the Capital Region on March 15, 1989. During our chat, we discuss the era of heavy metal in the 1980s, evolution of Metallica’s stage production during the Damaged Justi...

 Mike Valente is a well-known figure in the 518 music scene. As the founding member of national touring act Brick by Brick, he’s shared the stage with some of the world’s biggest, and heaviest, bands touring across the United States and Europe. Mike is also the owner of Upstate Black N Blue Productions which books shows at Empire Underground and Empire Live in downtown Albany, New York. Mike takes...

On February 11, 1991, the legendary Slayer performed most of their new album, “Seasons in the Abyss,” along with other career-spanning tracks during an 80-minute set at the RPI Houston Field House in Troy, New York, with support from Testament, and local Capital Region band Attica. We’re joined again by Jason Bittner, lifelong Capital Region resident and world-renowned drummer, and Mike Valente, f...

First published in The Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore helped shape modern conceptions of Santa Claus and many of our familiar holiday traditions. For our latest episode we invited Kathy Sheehan, Executive Director of the Hart Cluett Museum and the city of Troy and Rensselaer County historian, to explain the story behind this iconic pie...

In our latest episode, we revisit Metallica’s concert at the RPI Field House on March 15, 1989. The heavy metal icons were rampaging across America on their Damaged Justice tour in support of their latest studio album “…and Justice for All". The episode features special guest Jason Bittner —lifelong Capital Region resident, world renowned drummer for Shadows Fall and Category 7 , and alumni of oth...

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band delivered a sold-out show at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Houston Field House on Nov. 12, 1978, part of the band’s Darkness on the Edge of Town tour which criss-crossed the United States and Canada between May 1978 and January 1979. In the audience that night was 16-year-old Joyce Bassett—now an award-winning sports columnist with the Times Union —who...

On November 12, 1978, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band landed in the Collar City for the latest stop of their Darkness on the Edge of Town tour. In the audience that night was a 16-year-old Joyce Bassett who remembers the non-stop energy of The Boss during the band's two sets. New episode coming November 2024.  Subscribe for email updates on upcoming guests, chapters, and special bonus cont...