Off Air with Slater and Marjo

Handicap Parking Fight, Male Role Models, and Financial Education

This episode features Jake McCandless, a tenured teacher, principal and superintendent within the Berkshire County school system. McCandless has been with Lee, Pittsfield, Mt. Greylock, and now W.E.B. DuBois. Join us as we weave through things like how important a male role model (father, uncle, grandfather) is in a student's life, why students study the subjects they do, and the need for financial eduction in the school system. We start with an anecdote of a fight between two women in a yoga class over a handicapped parking spot.

Tiger Woods, Rip City Academy, and Trading Cards

This episode features Alex Carusotto, co-owner of Rip City Baseball Academy in Pittsfield, MA. Join us as we talk about Tiger Woods' latest woes regarding his DUI arrest, plus discover Carusotto's story. From Taconic High School baseball to UMASS Boston, to the Pittsfield Suns to running the training facility.

RFK Jr. and MAHA, Merry Pranksters, and The Air Force

This episode features Bill Wright, an employee of Blue Q in Massachusetts, a photographer, and health enthusiast. Bill was a skater dude turned Air Force and ultimately lost over 100 pounds after realizing he wasn't healthy in his 40's. Wright is avid cycler and runner. Join us as we talk about RFK, tribalism, looking cool, his mom being a Merry Prankster, his time in the Air Force, and more.

Puerto Vallarta, Training and Fitness

This episode features Tuan Nguyen, a tenured fitness instructor in The Berkshires who currently works at Bousquet Sport. Nguyen, whose parents were immigrants from Vietnam, hails from Oakland, CA who ended up going to college at UMASS Amherst - fell in love with the Northeast region, Western Massachusetts and the four seasons. Join us as we talk about his recent trip to Puerto Vallarta just before the cartel had terrorized the city after the death of 'El Mencho', co-ed cheerleading, all things fitness, and more.

Nuclear Deterrence, War, Market Rate Housing

This episode features Pittsfield, MA ward 2 councilor and General Dynamics employee Cam Cunningham. Join us as we weave through topics like the power of nuclear deterrence when it comes to war, geopolitics, the Lenco Bearcat and why market rate housing can trickle down to affordable and low income housing in Pittsfield.

Super Bowl Recap, Gaming Culture, and The Robbery

This episode features Tyler Alderman, owner of Quick Fix on North Street in Pittsfield. Alderman was a recent victim of a smash and grab robbery - he suspects he knows the perpetrator based on an altercation with an alleged drunken man days earlier. The man assaulted him which ultimately led to Alderman needing to defend himself. You can hear the story here as well as conversation on gaming culture and more.

Testosterone, Jail Time, School Choice and Voter ID

This episode features Pittsfield City Council President, Earl Persip. Persip, a lifelong Pittsfield resident, gets candid about his father's jail time, the reason he choices his daughter to Lenox schools, the positives and negatives of the city, voter ID laws, being a gun owner and much more. 

Coors Light, Drinking Trends & Tanglewood Acts

This episode features Lee, MA legend Josh Cohen who opened up Moe's Tavern in 2007. The idea was a craft beer bar with a focus on micro brews - certainly not domestics like Coors Light. In fact, it became so well known that Moe's did not serve the Golden, CO staple, that Moe's website was nocoorslight.com Well, hell has frozen over because in 2026, they now offer it. Join us as we talk about the changing drinking trends, Tanglewood musical acts, teenager vernacular and more.

Homeless on North Street, Men's Fashion Trends & Sports

Season 2 launches with Evan Valenti of Steven Valenti's Clothing for Men as the podcast shifts its focus entirely to Pittsfield and the Berkshires. Valenti addresses the current challenges facing North Street businesses, particularly concerns related to the homeless population downtown. The conversation covers emerging trends in men's fashion and fragrances, the store's decision to expand into women's clothing, and more. As a co-host of the Celtic Beat podcast on the CLNS network, Valenti also weighs in on sports, Wahconah Park, and classic Jim Carrey films. 

Do Martial Arts Actually Work? (7th Degree Black Belt Reveals All)

This episode features 7th degree Karate black belt Connie Flynn—also a 2nd degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and certified in Sitodyong Muay Thai—as she reveals the unfiltered truth about martial arts training. As the owner of Zenquest Martial Arts in Massachusetts, Connie draws from decades of experience to answer all your biggest questions: Does martial arts truly build unbreakable confidence? How do styles like Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, and Muay Thai compare, and which is best for you? What separates fake self-defense programs from those that actually work in real situations? How do toxic dojo cultures—like Kreese's in Cobra Kai—show up in real life, and how can you spot a healthy one? And what makes martial arts training for law enforcement uniquely different? No hype here—just honest, insightful answers from a lifetime master instructor.