WAMC Podcasts

Hailed by The Booker Prize judges as a “fierce and philosophical interrogation of human existence,” Charlotte Wood’s “Stone Yard Devotional” chronicles “one woman’s inward journey to make sense of the world and her life when conflicts and chaos are abundant in both realms.” 

On this week’s 51%, we speak with journalist Katie Simon about their new book Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault. For years, Simon has researched the impact of sexual assault on survivors’ relationships and sex lives. Tell Me What You Like shares some of their stories, […]

2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and New York State has a huge party planned. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with state officials and local partners to discuss this momentous birthday celebration and the importance of the Canal System today and into the future. […]

On this episode of the podcast, Devin and Lauren were able to attend the unveiling of the brand-new Garnet Douglass Baltimore historical marker at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy along with Bill Pomeroy himself. Garnet Douglass Baltimore was the first African American graduate of RPI and went on to a long and very […]

This episode of A New York Minute in History commemorates Women’s History Month by uncovering the groundbreaking 1828 court case of Sojourner Truth, a self-emancipated Black woman who took on a white slave owner to free her young son from bondage. Interviewees: Barbara Allen, author and Sixth-Great Granddaughter of Sojourner Truth and Taylor Bruck, Ulster […]

Our new season kicks off with an episode that highlights the war experiences of the legendary  Rhode Island Regiment, a multiracial combat regiment that served through the entirety of the American Revolution, from the Siege of Boston to the disbanding of the Continental Army in 1783. The regiment saw action at the battles of Red […]

In this episode, Devin and Lauren sit down with William G. Pomeroy, founder of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, and Bill Brower, the new Executive Director of the Foundation, to discuss the origins of their shared love of history and how the Pomeroy Foundation is increasing its marker program presence in New York and beyond. […]

Election season is here and tensions are high. On this week’s 51%, we learn about a nonprofit working to heal America’s political divide and foster healthier dialogues between citizens. Gabriella Timmis of Braver Angels teaches us how to build trust and, in some cases, find common ground with people we disagree with. Our associate producer, […]

The candidates in the race for New York’s 19th Congressional district seat, Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro and Democratic challenger Josh Riley, debate for their only time before their rematch.

Pledging to the WAMC October Fund Drive keeps podcasts and programs like this in production.

The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment now stands at 75.9 — at the breakeven point where pessimism and optimism are balanced. That’s according to the latest poll from the Siena College Research Institute, which finds consumer sentiment is unchanged from the second quarter of the year. The poll finds New Yorkers remain concerned […]

On November 5, voters in the 3rd Berkshire State House district will decide on their first new representative in over two decades. Marybeth Mitts is running against her as an independent candidate in the general after Democrat Leigh Davis won the primary. We speak with Mitts, of the Lenox town board, about how she hopes […]

This episode delves into New York State’s role in the War of 1812, which is often considered America’s “second war of Independence.” With a particular focus on the State Historic site at Sackets Harbor, we learn the particularly important role that New York, and New Yorkers, played in the war. Marker of Focus: War of […]

This episode focuses on culinary history and the Pomeroy Foundation’s Hungry for History program. We discover that the history of what we eat, and how we eat it, can tell us much about ourselves and our shared pasts. Markers of Focus: Hungry for History Interviewees: Elizabeth Jakubowski, Senior Librarian, New York State Library. You can […]

As New York State prepares to host the oldest state fair in the nation, this episode tells the history of the summertime tradition of agricultural fairs and how they developed from gatherings of learned societies into the popular attractions that we all know today. Markers of Focus: County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa, Saratoga County. Interviewees: Richard […]

WAMC’s David Guistina speaks with New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes about the GOP national convention platform and its potential impact on New York. We’ll also cover whether President Biden should step aside for a younger candidate, the suspension of congestion pricing, cell phones in schools, and update on the legal cannabis industry, […]

We’re in an unprecedented time in national politics. Does an interview we did back in 2012 about the national ticket, health and party loyalty offer any clues? We speak with Joshua Glasser, author of “The Eighteen-Day Running Mate: McGovern, Eagleton and a Campaign in Crisis.”

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal of a strict abortion ban in Idaho, allowing some emergency abortions in the state to continue — for now. On this week’s 51%, we speak with Rutgers Law School Professor Kimberly Mutcherson about what this means for patients in Idaho, and for the Court. Guests: Kimberly Mutcherson, professor […]

This episode tells the story of Lady Christian Henrietta Caroline “Harriet” Acland, aristocratic wife of Major John Dyke Acland, who commanded the British 20th Regiment of Foot during the Burgoyne campaign of 1777. When Major Acland was wounded and taken prisoner, Lady Harriet risked her own life and freedom to nurse him back to health. […]