Best Ray Graf Podcasts (2025)

1
Food Friday 8/8/25: Summer Pies with Ellen Gray 49:28

2d ago49:28

49:28

The berries are popping and the peaches are ripening. It's time for summer pies. Ellen Gray is back to dish on the subject. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Gardening 8/7/25 50:37

3d ago50:37

50:37

The gardening experts are back to take your calls. Ray Graf hosts.

1
UFO, UAP and USO with Dr. Kevin Knuth 8/6/25 48:32

4d ago48:32

48:32

We welcome back SUNY physics professor Dr. Kevin Knuth for another of our semi-regular discussions about UFO. We'll talk about the latest sightings, scientific findings and take your calls. WAMC's Ray Graf hosts.

1
Birding with Rich Guthrie and Julie Hart 8/5/25 49:42

6d ago49:42

49:42

Julie Hart and Rich Guthrie are back to answer your questions. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Medical Monday 8/4/25: Colorectal Health with Dr. Joanne Favuzza 48:23

7d ago48:23

48:23

We are joined by Dr. Joanne Favuzza of Capital District Colon & Rectal Surgery Associates, a practice of St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates. Joe Donahue hosts.

1
Food Friday 8/1/25: Eggs with Shannon Hayes 50:26

10d ago50:26

50:26

This show figures to be egg-ceptional. We welcome Shannon Hayes, an owner of Sap Bush Hollow Farm, and the chef at Sap Bush Cafe. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Writers Forum 7/31/25 50:13

11d ago50:13

50:13

We talk about writing and the creative process with Barbara Chepaitis and Lale Davidson. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Pets and Vets 7/30/25 49:39

12d ago49:39

49:39

We welcome back Dr. Susan Sikule of the Just Cats Veterinary Clinic and Dr. Kris Dallas of Ancient Arts Holistic Veterinary Services. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Real Estate with Renata and Alex 7/29/25 47:43

13d ago47:43

47:43

We welcome back Alexander Monticello and Renata Lewis to answer your questions. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Medical Monday 7/28/25: Headaches and Migraines 48:53

14d ago48:53

48:53

We welcome back Dr. Hida Nierenburg, director of Headache Medicine at Nuvance Health. WAMC's Ray Graf hosts.

1
Food Friday 7/25/25: Cold Canning with Bruce and Mark 48:47

17d ago48:47

48:47

Prolific authors and podcasters Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough are back! They'll give us the lowdown on a process known as cold canning. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Gardening 7/24/25 50:23

18d ago50:23

50:23

Calling all green thumbs! The experts are back to tackle your gardening questions. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Megaliths of the Northeast with Glenn Kreisberg 7/23/25 50:55

19d ago50:55

50:55

We welcome Glenn Kreisberg, author of "Spirits in Stone, The Secrets of Megalithic America." Ray Graf hosts.

1
History with Kathryn Sheehan 7/22/25 49:46

20d ago49:46

49:46

We welcome back Kathryn Sheehan for another of our regular deep dives into the history of our region. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Medical Monday 7/21/25: Podiatry with Dr. Douglas Tumen 49:30

21d ago49:30

49:30

Dr. Douglas Tumen of Hudson Valley Foot Associates joins us to take your foot health questions. Ray Graf hosts.

1
Astronomy 7/17/25 46:15

25d ago46:15

46:15

Astronomers Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson join us to discuss recent space news and answer your questions.

1
Comics and Cards 7/16/25 46:01

26d ago46:01

46:01

Like so many hobbies of old, sports card and comic book collecting saw a major rekindling of interest during the COVID pandemic. Where does the market stand today? Bill Townsend of Electric City Comics and Al Itskov of Al's House of Sports Cards join us once again to answer your questions. Ian Pickus hosts.…

1
Travel with Jean Gagnon 7/15/25 46:58

27d ago46:58

46:58

We welcome back travel professional Jean Gagnon to take your questions.

1
Medical Monday 7/14/25: Back and Neck Pain Relief with Dr. Niraj Sharma 48:32

28d ago48:32

48:32

Joining us today is Dr. Niraj Sharma of Cardinal Spine and Pain Medicine in Wappingers Falls, New York.

1
Food Friday 7/11/25: Gluten-free baking with Melanie O'Malley 46:43

1M ago46:43

46:43

We welcome back Melanie O'Malley of O'Malley's Oven to further explore the wonders of great gluten-free baking.

1
Phil Rosenthal’s Secret Recipe: Good Food and a Laugh 22:54

2M ago22:54

22:54

Writer, producer and host Phil Rosenthal makes television for the whole family. First, he created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom classic, Everybody Loves Raymond. Now he has taken his vision to food and travel with Somebody Feed Phil. Through his global travels - to places as close to home as Las Vegas, Nevada, and as far away as Sydney, Australia -…

1
Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut 37:28

2M ago37:28

37:28

TV on the Radio co-founder Tunde Adebimpe is a force of positivity. In the face of unimaginable loss, Adebimpe has channeled his grief into Thee Black Boltz, an upbeat, high-energy solo debut. You might know Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio, the band whose era-defining hits like “Wolf Like Me” helped shape the 2000s New York indie scene. Or you’…

1
George C. Wolfe on Desperation and Desire in His “Gypsy” 25:43

3M ago25:43

25:43

For Tony-winning playwright and theater director George C. Wolfe, the “landscape of America is rich and complicated and messy.” He takes the greatest joy in putting that messiness on the Broadway stage. This time, he’s directing the Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” widely considered the best of the Golden Age musicals. Alongside the show’s lead actor A…

1
Daveed Diggs Takes on Cyberpunk Rap 26:00

4M ago26:00

26:00

You might know rapper and actor Daveed Diggs from his performances in Broadway’s “Hamilton” or 2024’s “Nickel Boys.” But he is also one-third of the hip-hop group clipping. Known for their love of genre storytelling, the group’s new album “Dead Channel Sky” is not their first foray into science fiction. Along with William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes…

1
Lucy Dacus Makes Her First Love Songs 24:37

5M ago24:37

24:37

Singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus has been building up to this moment her entire career. With her new album, “Forever Is a Feeling,” she is ready to write about love. Coming off the heels of a Grammy Award-winning run with her supergroup, boygenius, Dacus has signed a major label contract with Geffen for her solo work. In this episode, Lucy Dacus talks …

1
Alicia Graf Mack on Honoring the Past and Future of Dance 32:11

6M ago32:11

32:11

Alicia Graf Mack has been entrusted with carrying the torch of ballet and modern dance into the future. As a dancer, she has battled through adversity to perform alongside artists like Beyoncé, John Legend and Andre 3000. As a teacher, she has helped bridge the past into the future, educating new generations of students. In this episode, Alicia Gra…

1
Min Jin Lee Revisits the Decades It Took To Write “Pachinko” 38:46

9M ago38:46

38:46

Author Min Jin Lee talks to us about the power of the social novel. Her epic historical fiction novel, “Pachinko,” is frequently cited as one of the best books of the 21st century. Lee’s exploration of the immigrant experience, identity and empathy has a timeless quality that feels as relevant as ever in our current moment. In this episode, Min Jin…

1
Michael Urie Finds Laughs in the Balcony and the Front Row 36:22

9M ago36:22

36:22

Actor Michael Urie is a breath of fresh air. He talks to us about his journey in acting from the suburbs of Dallas, Texas to the Broadway stage. It was an unlikely path filled with generous doses of hard work, talent and passion. Urie explains how he first fell in love with musical comedies and how it changed everything for him. Even if you’ve neve…

1
Conor Oberst Finds His Purpose in Process 31:20

10M ago31:20

31:20

Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst talks to us about the joy of making music. He describes his music and artistic mission as both a “release of negative feelings” and “a way to rejoice.” With their new album, “Five Dice, All Threes,” Oberst’s work with his band Bright Eyes is as emotionally expressive as ever. He breaks down the collaborative process b…

1
Taffy Brodesser-Akner Defends the Trauma Plot 38:59

11M ago38:59

38:59

Writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner jokes that “family is a chronic condition,” but eventually, we all figure out that we are lucky to have it. She talks to us about this theme in her newest novel and its sprawling exploration of how a Jewish family from Long Island contends with their own intense intergenerational trauma by simply surviving together. It’…

1
Minnie Driver’s Path to the Throne 32:44

11M ago32:44

32:44

Actor Minnie Driver talks to us about how she took on the role of one of the most powerful women in history. In the Starz series, “The Serpent Queen,” she plays Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned over England and Ireland for nearly 45 years in the 16th and 17th centuries. It’s a role that demands a larger than life presence, and Driver explains how she…

1
Annie Baker Shifts From Stage to Screen 33:02

12M ago33:02

33:02

Annie Baker talks to us about her directorial debut, “Janet Planet.” Her film explores the intimate relationship between a single mother and her daughter told over a long and hot summer break in Western Massachusetts. Baker shares her “intuitive” approach to making the film and the ways in which her work defies easy categorization. She also talks a…

1
Jewel Finds Healing in Music and Art 40:22

1y ago40:22

40:22

Singer-songwriter Jewel talks to us about her love of learning and the joy of making art across multiple disciplines. She recounts her journey navigating a traumatic childhood and channeling its challenges into better understanding herself. She reminds us that “trauma does change us, but we get to choose how it changes us.” Jewel talks about how th…

1
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Can Do That Genre Too! 40:42

1y ago40:42

40:42

Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks to us about the vast “spectrum of realism” in his line of work. He might be one of the most adaptable actors working today. Whether it’s the recently released Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Lincoln, 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Dark Knight Rises, Mysterious Skin, 500 Days of Summer, or one of the dozens of other projects he’s s…

1
Here's a quick preview of our new season! 0:58

1y ago0:58

0:58

We're back! Our first new episode drops Thursday, July 25th, and every other Thursday after that. First up: Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks with us about his creative process as an actor who is able to mold himself to any and all film genres, including this month's new film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. How do the world’s finest artists – from actors to m…

1
From The Plot Thickens: Decoding John Ford 50:41

1y ago50:41

50:41

We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at The Plot Thickens, a podcast from TCM about movies and the people who make them. Their new season is all about John Ford, the most influential filmmaker in cinema history. In this episode, we’re exploring Ford’s early days, when he rose to fame by being one of the most reckless, independent director…

1
Ling Ma on Imploding the Immigrant Narrative 28:10

2y ago28:10

28:10

Novelist Ling Ma doesn’t shy away from taking risks with her writing. Her 2018 debut novel, “Severance,” is an apocalyptic satire that won the Kirkus Prize for Fiction and squarely put her on the map as an exciting, off-beat new writer. With her newest collection, “Bliss Montage,” Ma has turned her attention to the short story format. The collectio…

1
Viet Thanh Nguyen on the Ghosts that Haunt our Cultural Past (Replay) 37:55

2+ y ago37:55

37:55

It’s been announced! Writer Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer” (2015) is now getting the prestige TV treatment on HBO’s newly rebranded Max streaming service. To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we revisit our interview with Nguyen. In it, he talks about not just “The Sympathizer,” but ab…

1
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Searches for Truth Through Acting 19:34

2+ y ago19:34

19:34

Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is one of the busiest people in Hollywood. His recent films include “Aquaman,” “The Matrix Resurrections,” “Ambulance,” and “Candyman.” But most recently, he made his Broadway debut in "Topdog/Underdog." In this episode, Abdul-Mateen II gives a masterclass on his acting process. The graduate of the Yale School of Drama d…

1
Kelly Reichardt Breaks Down Her Filmmaking Process Behind "Showing Up" 27:18

2+ y ago27:18

27:18

In her eighth feature film, “Showing Up,” Kelly Reichardt takes pleasure in thinking about “life on the level outside of commerce.” Her films often explore working-class characters living life on the margins. Movies like “First Cow,” “Certain Women,” “Wendy and Lucy,” and “Old Joy” have established Reichardt as one of the most fiercely independent …

1
Jennifer Egan Writes to Experience a Life Outside Her Own 30:08

2+ y ago30:08

30:08

A compelling novel can transport us into worlds unknown. Novelist Jennifer Egan has mastered this inventiveness of fiction with her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "A Visit from the Goon Squad," and in her newest book,"The Candy House." In this episode, Egan breaks down her writing process behind "Lulu the Spy, 2032," a chapter from "The Candy House.…

1
Al Nelson’s Sound Design Journey From “Jurassic Park” To “Top Gun: Maverick” 31:14

2+ y ago31:14

31:14

“Top Gun: Maverick” is filled with booming jet engines and layered sonic storytelling. Since this publication, it won the award for Best Sound at the Oscars, largely due to the work of Al Nelson, sound designer and supervising sound editor at Skywalker Sound. Hear how he and his team spent time on aircraft carriers to capture the film’s iconic soun…

1
Jason Kim Goes Inside the World of K-pop 25:51

2+ y ago25:51

25:51

K-pop is a genre full of catchy music and elaborate choreography. It’s a natural fit for the Broadway stage. As a lifelong fan of K-pop, writer Jason Kim (“Girls,” “Barry,” and “Divorce”) was interested in the personal lives of the global superstars from Korean pop bands like BTS and BLACKPINK. How do these artists deal with the pressure of making …

1
Ruth E. Carter Designs Costumes to Stand the Test of Time 29:26

2+ y ago29:26

29:26

What does it mean to create futuristic costumes from the past? Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter’s Afrofuturistic designs imagine the fictional African nation of Wakanda without the influence of colonialism. In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” she takes this theory to another imagined world that draws on Mesoamerican history. In this e…

1
John Waters on the Fine Art of Bad Taste 20:32

2+ y ago20:32

20:32

John Waters loves to break the rules and make you laugh along the way. The iconoclast has been doing just that over the past six decades with provocative and perverse films like “Pink Flamingos,” “Hairspray,” and “Female Trouble.” Now enshrined as the king of transgressive cinema, Waters is taking on new challenges with his talents. In this episode…

1
John David Washington Explores his Past for his Broadway Debut 32:33

2+ y ago32:33

32:33

Actor John David Washington loves to talk about his craft. The star of films like “BlacKkKlansman,” “Tenet” and “Amsterdam” has now set his sights on Broadway with August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson.” Performing for the stage requires a different skill set from acting for film, and in this episode, Washington describes the intensive process he under…

1
One more short scene from the life of Buffy Sainte-Marie 4:45

2+ y ago4:45

4:45

Buffy Sainte-Marie is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the past century. For 60 years her music has quietly reverberated throughout pop culture, and provided a touchstone for Indigenous resistance. Buffy is a five-part series from CBC Podcasts hosted by Mohawk and Tuscarora writer Falen Johnson and explores how Buffy’s life and legacy…

1
New season of American Masters: Creative Spark! 2:42

2+ y ago2:42

2:42

How do the world’s finest artists – from actors to musicians and beyond – create work that moves audiences? What challenges do they overcome in their creative process? American Masters: Creative Spark explores what makes a master by interviewing diverse artists and cultural icons from the worlds of music, comedy, poetry, film, and more in a new sea…

1
How Buffy Sainte-Marie Made Her Most Triumphant Song Yet 23:45

2+ y ago23:45

23:45

Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Cree musician, artist and activist, has always been ahead of the pack. For six decades, she has fought for Indigenous rights and visibility through her work. She spoke out against the Vietnam War with her song “Universal Soldier,” foresaw the opioid crisis with the eerily prescient “Cod’ine,” and wrote iconic love songs like “…

1
Jo Firestone Proves Comedy Has No Age Limit 22:14

3+ y ago22:14

22:14

Comedian Jo Firestone was leading a weekly remote comedy workshop with a group of senior citizens from New York’s Greenwich House when something magical happened. Through in-person sessions, one-on-one interviews and a live public performance, a documentary special emerged called "Good Timing." Join Firestone and her crew of funny seniors as they f…

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