Ridgewood Talks

About Ridgewood Talks

Welcome to the Ridgewood Talks Podcast, serving as a voice of the village since 2017. Through this podcast we’ll introduce you to the leaders and legends in our village. We'll keep you updated on fascinating local events, we’ll dig into the towns hot topics, and more. The show is hosted by the amazing Jeanne Johnson - founder of Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Walks. Our goal is to create a kinder, more connected and vibrant community. The show is co-hosted by lifelong Ridgewood resident, Jordan Kaufman, and features a growing number of guest hosts to add new perspectives. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on WHO and WHAT you'd like to learn about in our beautiful hometown. Please comment on who you would like us to interview and what topics we should cover next. As always... be kind, do good… and we hope you enjoy these episodes! The show is produced by and recorded at Ignite Creator Studios, a video podcast and content strategy studio in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Publisher

Ridgewood Talks

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Sept 2019

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

91 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Ridgewood Talks Village Council Candidate Election Special with Siobhan Winograd & Evan Weitz

   Joining from a studio in southern England, Host Jeanne Johnson welcomes incumbent Village Council candidates Siobhan Winograd and Evan Weitz to Ridgewood Talks for 2026 election coverage. Evan and Siobhan clarify that they are running separate campaigns for two open seats but they do endorse each other, then share personal background and prior public service. Winograd and Weitz discuss major Ridgewood issues including the long-delayed Schedler property plan (historic house, park amenities, and a proposed turf multipurpose field), property taxes and spending priorities, grants and public-private partnerships, downtown economic development through the Special Improvement District and Ridgewood Business Alliance, the pedestrian tunnel remediation and potential public art, efforts to preserve the Warner Theatre via an option agreement supporting a Ridgewood Arts Foundation grant bid, parking policies, and council transparency and operational reforms such as improvements to the building department. They share campaign contacts and promote the League of Women Voters debate and early voting dates. *** Important Episode Background for Transparency: We invited both Board of Education candidates, Mary E. Micale and Anabelle Andon to participate, but because their election is uncontested, they graciously declined. We extended invitations to all four candidates running for the Ridgewood Village Council. Because of the special production requirements, there was a cost associated with participating. The cost was to strictly to cover production expenses and were in no way payments for favorable coverage or editorial influence. Every candidate was offered the same opportunity under the same terms. In return, we agreed to produce and distribute the interviews and highlights through the Ridgewood Talks podcast and social media channels. HyunJu Kwak did not respond to our invitation, and Denise Pierce-Lima declined to participate. Only our two incumbent council members, Siobhan Winograd and Evan Weitz accepted and participated in this episode. Neither candidate received the questions in advance. Episode Chapters: (00:00) Show Setup Abroad (00:49) Interview Ground Rules (02:21) Meet The Candidates (04:21) Not A Joint Ticket (05:19) Lightning Round Bios (07:31) Public Service Records (14:15) Civic Engagement Push (14:50) What Makes Ridgewood (16:50) Schedler Park Debate (27:36) Taxes Spending Plans (35:47) Valley Hospital Taxes (36:53) Business Alliance Explained (39:01) Beautification and Openings (42:16) Digital Footprint Push (44:20) Pedestrian Tunnel Fix (48:32) Saving Warner Theatre (55:15) Parking Plans and Passes (59:08) Transparency and Access (01:03:56) Building Department Overhaul (01:06:28) How to Get Involved (01:07:44) Final Sign Off Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to stay informed about all things Ridgewood, New Jersey! Evan Weitz Campaign Socials and Web https://www.evanweitz.com/ Evan Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weitzforridgewood/ Evan Campaign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeitzForRidgewood Siobhan Winograd Socials and Web https://winograd2026.com/ Siobhan Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winograd2026 Siobhan Campaign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593754692177 Ridgewood Walks and Talks: https://www.ridgewoodwalks.com Ridgewood Talks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridgewood_talks Ridgewood Talks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1291013971028083 This episode is produced by Ignite Creator Studios, Bergen County’s premier video podcasting & content strategy service! Ignite Creator Studios: https://www.ignitecreatorstudios.com/ Theme music by Dave Gross from the album Mandology. Find the song: Cool it! - on Apple Music Here: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/david-gross/288722944 And you can find Dave Gross – Mandology on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DaveGrossMandology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Ridgewood Village Manager Keith Kazmark on Staffing, Taxes, Housing, Water, Parking and more – Part 2

   Jeanne Johnson welcomes Village Manager Keith Kazmark back to Ridgewood Talks to discuss major village updates, including a number of new hires for the village in public works, IT, cybersecurity, building and permits to improve backlogs and improve service for residents and businesses. Kazmark explains the county-ordered property tax reassessment, how values are set, what residents will receive in November, and how to ask questions or later file formal appeals, plus notes on impacts of unpermitted improvements. He outlines senior tax relief programs (PAS application for Senior Tax Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ), expanded senior bus service, community center renovations, and a senior parking pass. Other topics include affordable housing compliance and special-needs housing discussions, environmental testing at the Walnut/Franklin town garage property, Ridgewood Water PFAS treatment progress and funding efforts, rising utility and healthcare costs, parking management recommendations from Walker, new bus shelter plans, and grants to restore the train-station pedestrian tunnel with potential community art. (00:00) Show Intro (01:12) Back with Keith (01:28) New Public Works Lead (02:56) IT and Cell Coverage (04:30) Building Dept Overhaul (06:28) Why Reassessment Happened (08:17) Appeals and Notifications (11:18) Who Goes Up Most (12:45) Senior Tax Relief (15:10) Senior Services Upgrades (20:22) Affordable Housing Update (22:31) Protecting Green Space ROSI (23:20) Walnut Franklin Site Testing (25:02) Ridgewood Water PFAS Update (28:27) Budget Pressures Utilities Healthcare (29:44) Public Health Plan Cost Surge (31:39) Parking Perception and Signage (36:07) Bus Shelter and Tunnel Grants (37:39) Community Art Tunnel Mosaic (39:49) Village Wrap Up and Thanks Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to stay informed about all things Ridgewood, New Jersey! Ridgewood Walks and Talks: https://www.ridgewoodwalks.com Ridgewood Talks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridgewood_talks Ridgewood Talks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1291013971028083 This episode is produced by Ignite Creator Studios, Bergen County’s premier video podcasting & content strategy service! Ignite Creator Studios: https://www.ignitecreatorstudios.com/ Theme music by Dave Gross from the album Mandology. Find the song: Cool it! - on Apple Music Here: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/david-gross/288722944 And you can find Dave Gross – Mandology on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DaveGrossMandology Hashtags: #RidgewoodNJ #RidgewoodTalks #BergenCountyNJ #RidgewoodNJPodcast #NorthJersey #BergenCountyNews #NJLocalNews #RidgewoodCommunity #BergenCountyEvents #NewJerseyPodcast #BergenCountyUpdates #NJPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Inside the New Ridgewood Business Alliance & Special Improvement District

   Host Jeanne Johnson interviews Steve Grillo (Executive Director) and Corinne Mahoney (Director of Marketing) of the new Ridgewood Business Alliance about how Ridgewood’s Special Improvement District works and what it will do for our local businesses and residents. They explain that the district is funded by property assessments on commercial properties town-wide, enabling long-term planning, business support services, and potential physical improvements, without a municipal financial role. Drawing on their experience building “Explore Millburn Short Hills”, they discuss priorities including data-driven vacancy and business mix analysis, marketing and branding, streetscape and wayfinding, public art, sidewalks, parking management planning, and partnerships with groups like the Chamber and Guild. They also cover grant opportunities (including Main Street), NJEDA resources, potential future staffing, support for a performing arts center effort, and much more. (00:00) Meet the RBA Team (02:29) What a SID Does (05:57) Funding and Assessments (09:03) Municipal Role and Nonprofit (10:32) Main Street Program Explained (12:18) Board and Volunteer Committees (13:58) Why Ridgewood Needed This (15:42) How Residents Benefit (17:17) Working with Chamber and Guild (19:55) Vacancies and Parking Strategy (25:41) Streetscaping and Wayfinding (28:31) Branding and Visitor Appeal (29:46) Tackling Business Redundancy (32:37) Retail Site Standards (33:14) Health Uses Downtown (34:17) Streetscape and Branding (35:43) Anchor Stores Strategy (37:14) Millburn Events Wins (39:50) Parking Shuttle Idea (40:40) Performing Arts Catalyst (42:54) Volunteers and Staff (46:19) Business Support Services (48:24) Funding and NJEDA Help (51:15) Future Goals and Impact (55:23) Logo Contest and Social (57:56) Closing and Where To Follow Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to stay informed about all things Ridgewood, New Jersey! You can follow the Ridgewood Business Alliance here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visitridgewood Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18DCNZ3zSA/?mibextid=wwXIfr This episode is produced by Ignite Creator Studios, Bergen County’s premier video podcasting & content strategy service! Ignite Creator Studios: https://www.ignitecreatorstudios.com/ Ridgewood Walks and Talks: https://www.ridgewoodwalks.com Ridgewood Talks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridgewood_talks Ridgewood Talks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1291013971028083 Theme music by Dave Gross from the album Mandology. Find the song: Cool it! - on Apple Music Here: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/david-gross/288722944 And you can find Dave Gross – Mandology on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DaveGrossMandology Hashtags: #RidgewoodNJ #BergenCountyNJ #NorthJersey #NJLocalNews #RidgewoodCommunity #BergenCountyEvents #NJPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who has been a guest on Ridgewood Talks

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Ann Marie Olson
• Jim Stroker
• Cara Murray
• Michael Tozzoli
• Chris McCullough

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

6,946

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

66

Social presence

94

YouTube

68

Engagement

71

Contact Ridgewood Talks

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Ridgewood Talks