A Chef and a DJ go looking for the soul of the Hudson Valley.
Hudson Valley Unleashed isn’t just stories — it’s a front-row seat to the people who give this place its pulse: local icons, renegade artists, reclusive legends, wild-eyed dreamers, and neighbors who casually changed the world.
It’s part interview, part kitchen-table therapy, part back-porch happy hour — and always just a little... Unleashed.
Lorraine Toussaint is the kind of guest who makes time slow down and the truth get loud. You know her as Aunt Vi on The Equalizer, Vee on Orange Is the New Black, and the unforgettable Cressida in Into the Badlands, but in this episode Lorraine goes way beyond the roles.
She talks about growing up in Trinidad, moving to Brooklyn, the High School of Performing Arts, and Juilliard, plus the wild moment her real-life story ended up shaping Fame. We get into motherhood, single parenting on set, and what it means to raise a child with authenticity at the center.
Then the conversation turns deep, fast: spirituality, fear, division, and Lorraine’s reminder that love is not soft, it’s a practice, and sometimes it’s a weapon. We also talk Hudson Valley life, Omega Institute energy, planting trees, growing food, finding stillness, and why she comes “home” when she’s upstate.
30 Dec 2025
Create Happiness: Chef Ric Orlando’s Only Rule
Chef Ric Orlando joins Hudson Valley Unleashed for a loud, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt hang—because of course it is when you put a chef, a DJ, and a longtime Hudson Valley icon at the same kitchen table.
Josh and Dave go way back with Ric: from the early, chaotic glory days of New World Home Cooking (including those legendary Halloween parties) to the reality of building restaurants that feel like community—not just a place to eat. Ric talks about learning the craft in Boston at the legendary Harvest, cooking for Julia Child, and why the simplest food often hits the hardest.
Then we get into what he’s doing now: consulting gigs where he walks into kitchens and politely (or not) drags standards back to Earth, high-energy cooking classes that are basically performance art, pop-up dinners, sauces and spice rubs, and most notably his chef-driven Sicily and Italy tours that trade “see a church, eat pasta, goodbye” for real people, real stories, and the kind of meals you remember forever.
Also yes: he beat Bobby Flay. We had to say it.
New episode drops Tuesdays. Stay unleashed.
25 Nov 2025
Boujee, Ballsey, and Barely Behaved: Jen C Takes over HV Unleashed
Jen C (Jennifer Ciota) storms into the studio and absolutely detonates the place. From cow-farm life and Rhinebeck gossip to OnlyFans brainstorms, Colombian identity, white-people problems, and who in town she’d definitely sleep with—nothing is off limits. Josh almost gets recruited into porn, Dave gets propositioned, and the Hudson Valley gets roasted.
This is the episode that proves why we call the show Unleashed.
11 Nov 2025
From WDST to Sheroes: Carmel Holt Turns Conversation into Culture
Today we welcome family: broadcaster, musician, and champion of women and gender-expansive artists, Carmel Holt. Carmel traces her path from Bard College and the early Hudson Valley days—writing copy at WDST, landing “Acoustic Breakfast,” and becoming Music Director—to the leap to WFUV and the mentorship of the legendary Rita Houston. She opens up about why she left the security of radio to build Sheroes, the acclaimed show and podcast where artists actually tell the whole story, and how a pandemic pivot led to syndication on public radio and a Webby-nominated Sonos series (Mixtape Memoir). We also get the inside track on her ambitious multimedia project, The Road to Joni, celebrating Joni Mitchell through the voices of multiple generations. Plus: Kingston memories (yes, gigs at La Parmigiana before it became Terrapin), Poets’ Walk love, O+ Festival shout-out, and a candid look at sustaining independent media—now supported via fiscal sponsorship with AIR. If you care about music, mentorship, and making real space for artists, this one’s for you.
16 Oct 2025
From Canal House to World Class Wine Educator: Kevin Zraly
Kevin Zraly wrote the wine book that taught the world to drink with joy—Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, now over 3 million copies sold. His story is rooted in the Hudson Valley, with Sunday magic at the Canal House and John Novi, the farm-to-table pioneer who lit the spark. In this episode, Kevin traces an incredible arc—from High Falls to the 107th floor—why fearless hospitality matters, how wine became conversation for everyone, and the truth that the best bottle is the one that brings your people together. A heartfelt toast to Novi, a love letter to the Valley, and a masterclass from the man who opened the door for millions.
30 Sept 2025
Folk, Funk, & the Woodstock Way: Simi Stone
Simi Stone is a singer, songwriter, violinist, and visual artist rooted in Woodstock, NY—and a beacon of the Hudson Valley’s creative spirit. In this episode, Simi sits down with us to talk about building a life in art: how voice and violin found each other, what it means to perform with heart (not ego), the discipline behind joy, and why community is the real amplifier.
16 Sept 2025
Spinning Records & Carving Lines: MK Scully - WKZE DJ
Hudson Valley Unleashed sits down with MK Scully — WKZE afternoon host, wedding DJ, bandleader, skier, and certified Renaissance woman. She’s the diplomat of vibes, equally at home keeping uncles and hipsters on the same dance floor, bombing black diamonds at Belleayre, or fronting her tongue-in-cheek band Trailer Swift.
We dig into why human-curated radio still matters in the age of algorithms, the high-pressure joys of wedding DJ life, Kingston’s shifting culture, and how skiing became her true north. Along the way: brass bands, new disco obsessions, chaotic wedding stories, and even a peek at the Hudson Valley novel she’s writing.
It’s part interview, part kitchen-table therapy, part après-ski happy hour — and all unleashed.
2 Sept 2025
Art That Refuses to Behave: Norm Magnusson
This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed, Chef Josh Kroner and DJ Dave Leonard sit down with Hudson Valley’s own Renaissance man, Norm Magnusson. Norm is a visual artist, political activist, actor, scratch golfer, and the founder of Funism—an art movement built on humor, accessibility, and social commentary. From his allegorical animal paintings to the viral “historical markers” that stop people in their tracks, Norm has spent decades creating art that sparks curiosity and conversation.
We dive into his evolution from Madison Avenue ad man to full-time artist, why he believes art should invite interpretation instead of shutting people out, and how his work reflects both his playful spirit and his serious commitment to activism. Along the way, there are martinis, bucket hats, Gilligan references, and stories that reveal how one man can help shape the cultural soul of the Hudson Valley.
19 Aug 2025
From Phish to Fish: Paul Schiavo’s Journey from Rock & Roll to the River
This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed we sit down with Paul Schiavo — a guy who went from working with iconic recording artists such as Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Natalie Merchant, Aretha Franklin (and about a dozen other legends) to guiding fly fishing trips in the Catskills. Paul’s lived about three rock and roll lifetimes: snowed-in sessions with Rush, near-misses with John Mayer fortune, underground gigs that turned into Woodstock lore. And then, just when most people would be chasing bigger tours, he traded it all for waders and trout.
We get into the chaos of the Bearsville years, what it’s like herding John Mayer, why Geddy Lee made him starstruck, and how fly fishing in the Catskills became his true encore. It’s sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll… followed by salmon runs, conservation, and cold beer by the river.
5 Aug 2025
SNL’s Head Writer Kent Sublette and Broadway’s Clint Bond: A Hudson Valley Power Couple
Today we’re unleashing two of the Hudson Valley’s most brilliantly creative minds. Kent Sublette, head writer for Saturday Night Live, has spent the past two decades shaping American satire, sketch by sketch, all while keeping his cool in the madness of live television. Clint Bond, his equally magnetic husband, is a Broadway marketing mastermind who’s sold the magic of Wicked, SpongeBob, and Come From Away to audiences across the country.
In this candid conversation, we dive into how these two ended up together (spoiler: it involves Carmen Electra bailing on a magic show), how their lives intersect on cue cards and curtain calls, and why Terrapin is basically their Cheers. From writing SNL classics like Melissa McCarthy’s Sean Spicer sketch to putting Shrek in every high school theater across America, Kent and Clint dish on creativity, community, politics, and why Hudson Valley is the best third act anyone could ask for.
It’s part love story, part comedy masterclass, part small-town manifesto—and it’s all heart.
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.
🍷 Pair with Prosecco and a side of Uncle Vinny's Rigatoni
22 Jul 2025
Carly Hugo: HBO, Hudson Valley, and a Little Bit of Magic
In this episode of Hudson Valley Unleashed, we sit down with Emmy-nominated powerhouse Producer Carly Hugo — a film and television producer with a sixth sense for finding stories that matter. From producing the Nora Ephron documentary Everything Is Copy to crafting behind-the-scenes magic with Beyoncé, Carly shares how she balances creative passion with producing prowess. We talk about her early days eating beans in a Kerhonkson barn, her long-time collaboration with Matt Parker, how Couples Therapy made her believe in unscripted truth, and the one explosive story Hollywood wasn’t quite ready for (yet).
Fierce, brilliant, and refreshingly candid, Carly takes us behind the curtain of indie film, docuseries drama, and what it really means to be a producer today. Come for the stories about Tom Hanks and Blue Ivy, stay for the insight, inspiration, and a splash of Hudson Valley love.
8 Jul 2025
Brian Mahoney – The Man Who Made the Hudson Valley Cool
For over two decades, Chronogram editor and co-founder Brian Mahoney has curated the cultural soul of the Hudson Valley—celebrating the artists, agitators, mushroom foragers, and upstate eccentrics who make this place tick. In this episode, we unpack how a scrappy alt-mag grew into a regional institution, why the horoscopes still slap, and what it takes to say “yes” in an increasingly complicated world. Also: cage sex allegations, cease-and-desist letters from the Grammys, and the Hudson Valley’s finest secret swimming spot.
24 Jun 2025
John Morgan – Strength, Survival, and the Art of Elite Fitness Training
Elite strength coach John Morgan discusses real-world fitness, injury prevention, and training for practical life skills in this interview episode.
17 Jun 2025
Amy Hutchings — Casting, Sesame Street, Zombies & Everything In Between
Amy Hutchings shares her experiences as a casting director and Sesame Street alum, discussing diversity in media and unexpected career paths in an interview.
10 Jun 2025
Jonathan Burkhart - Film producer and co-founder of the Nantucket Film Festival
Film producer Jonathan Burkhart discusses his work on films like *I Dream Too Much* and co-founding the Nantucket Film Festival, highlighting his dedication to screenwriting and storytelling in this interview.
3 Jun 2025
Pete Caigan - a sound engineer, drummer, producer, artist, and audio design consultant based in the Hudson Valley
Pete Caigan, a sound engineer and producer, recounts stories from his extensive music career, including working with Sarah McLachlan and owning Utopia Studios, in this interview episode.
5 May 2025
Gary Chetkof
Gary Chetkof recounts his experiences building Radio Woodstock and founding Mountain Jam, sharing insights on music, marketing, and creating unique cultural experiences in this interview.
Who has been a guest on Hudson Valley Unleashed
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
John Morgan
Amy Hutchings
Jonathan Burkhart
Pete Caigan
Gary Chetkof
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
38
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Host of Hudson Valley Unleashed?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
