Off Air with Slater and Marjo

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.

Every 3 Hours Someone Dies on Train Tracks – Railroad Cop Breaks Silence

Nicole Ferry spent 12 years as a CSX Railroad Police officer—one of the most dangerous jobs nobody talks about—where every 3 hours in America someone is hit by a train, and she saw the aftermath up close. From chasing armed thieves across moving freight trains and protecting the President’s rail route, to watching a colleague take his own life on duty, being tricked into 140-day rehab for “addiction to leadership,” going temporarily blind from medication, and planning her own suicide (only stopped when her husband intervened), this is her raw, unfiltered story of survival. Today, medically retired, Nicole speaks at the FBI in Quantico 8 times a year, teaching the next generation of first responders how to make it out alive. If you’re a cop, railroad worker, or know someone on the front lines—this one’s for you.

My Co-Host Thinks George McFly is Hot?! (Back to the Future Review)

We pivot a bit for episode 28 - Marjo, for the first time since the movie's release 40 years ago, has watched "Back To The Future". The main takeaway? She has the hots for George McFly! (has anyone ever said this?) We break down the most uncomfortable love story in movie history, and we ask the biggest question of all: Is Biff Tannen a villain the world would still tolerate today?

AI Companions

This episode features Adam Graney, an AI tool expert. Enjoy as we break down the AI landscape - from ChatGPT vs Claude to the creepy FRIEND bracelet that wants to be your companion. Then we tackle what Elon Musk and Joe Rogan got right (and wrong) about AI taking jobs and universal income and more.

Cops & Active Shooter Training

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Maddalena, a retired detective lieutenant with an accomplished 28-year career on the force. He opens up about his journey in law enforcement, the reasons behind his early retirement and the emotional weight he still carries today. Mike also talks about what it’s like working in law enforcement in today's evolving world. Then, we shift gears a bit to learn about what he's doing now, including training businesses of all sizes on active shooter scenarios and various workplace security concerns.

"I thought she was dead."

In this episode, our own Marjo Catalano recounts in detail a horrifying situation that has haunted her for years. In 2003, after being let into her apartment in the wee hours of the morning, her upstairs neighbor, in a botched robbery attempt, stabbed her roommate multiple times. Ronald Kyse was ultimately arrested for the crime, served 22 years in prison and was released last year. 

The Marine Corps & 'Boots'

This episode features Clayton Cowdrey, a 19 year-old U.S. Marine, who recently graduated from boot camp in Parris Island. Cowdrey was injured during infantry school, became depressed and made the mistake of being honest about it - so they kicked him out. He gets candid about his experience, how he handled boot camp, became an expert rifleman, and what the hit Netflix show "Boots" gets right and wrong about the Marines.