Sure, you can drive from NYC to the Catskills in just under 3 hours. But as "Doobby," the taxi driver in Planes, Trains and Automobiles says, "You don't see nothing on the interstate but interstate." In this episode, host Brett Barry walks with Casey Kelbaugh on a stretch of the " Long Path ," a 358-mile trail from the George Washington Bridge in New York City to the edge of the Adirondack Park. Casey recounts his 27-day hike from East 4th Street in Manhattan to his cabin in the Catskills via ...
Jul 01, 2025•31 min•Ep. 146
Exploring Howes Cave: History, Tragedy, and Tourism Historian and author Dana Cudmore, a former tour guide and current chronicler of Howes Cave, Howe Caverns , and Schoharie County's "Cave Country," gives us a lay of the land and recalls the oft-repeated question, " Anybody ever die down here?" Cudmore recounts in his 2024 book, The Cave Electrician’s Widow: The Tragedy at Howe Caverns & Dramatic Courtroom Fight for Justice , the story of two Howe Caverns employees who tragically asphyxiated...
Jun 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 145
This episode of Kaatscast features an interview with Don Dales, a key figure in transforming Hobart, New York, into Hobart Book Village . The journey began with a single bookstore in a declining village and expanded into a book lovers' destination with seven bookstores, the Book Village Inn & Bar , and annual events, attracting visitors from far and wide. Dales discusses the initial challenges, community resistance, and the eventual success that turned Hobart into a thriving literary hub in ...
Jun 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 144
In this episode, Captain Drewski of the Delhi Polecats , formerly known as the Delhi Vintage Baseball Club, joins us to discuss the revival of vintage baseball in Delaware County, New York. Drewski shares the historical significance of a 200-year-old baseball challenge documented in an 1825 edition of the Delaware Gazette , marking the earliest recorded organized game of baseball in the United States . The Hamden 9, as part of the town's bicentennial celebrations, continue the tradition of playi...
May 20, 2025•21 min•Ep. 143
This episode explores an overnight camping trip led by Melissa Goodwin, a licensed guide and founder of ' Girl Gotta Hike ,' aimed at encouraging women to connect with the outdoors. Olivia Sippel, our production intern, shares her first camping experience in the Catskills, guided by Melissa, also known by her trail name 'Click.' The story delves into how Melissa's passion for hiking evolved, and the creation of her hiking service, with a focus on women and accessibility. The episode highlights t...
May 06, 2025•28 min•Ep. 142
Kaatscast spoke with Cornell University researchers about their latest investigations into New York State bobcat population abundance and the discovery of avian influenza (bird flu) in these wild felines . Featuring Jenny Bloodgood , a wildlife veterinarian, and Haley Turner, a Cornell graduate student, the podcast explores their collaborative efforts to assess bobcat abundance and health using GPS collar tagging and camera trap stations. The discussion highlights various diseases affecting bobc...
Apr 22, 2025•40 min•Ep. 141
Exploring the Magical World of Mushrooms with Catskill Fungi's John Michelotti In this episode of Kaatscast , host Brett Barry interviews John Michelotti, mushroom maven and founder of Catskill Fungi . John draws listeners into the enchanting and complex world of fungi, sharing his journey from an outdoor guide to becoming an enthusiastic mycology educator. Recorded at Catskill Fungi's commercial kitchen in Pine Hill, the episode delves into the life cycle of mushrooms, their ecological roles, c...
Apr 08, 2025•46 min•Ep. 140
Newly appointed Ulster County historian Eddie Moran discusses the role of a municipal historian and emphasizes the importance of presenting a complete and accurate history that includes all groups, with one such focus on the indigenous Lenape people. Moran, a SUNY New Paltz graduate and descendant of the region's Huguenot and Dutch colonists, shares his experiences working with various local organizations to expand the historical narrative. The episode also features a tour of the Ulster County H...
Mar 25, 2025•41 min•Ep. 139
The Overlook , a new nonprofit newspaper, describes itself as "community journalism serving Hunter, Hurley, Olive, Saugerties, Shandaken and Woodstock." At a time when newspapers in America are disappearing at a rate of about 2.5 per week, The Overlook is attempting to buck that trend with community coverage and investigative reporting, served up weekly, in a free subscription model. Join us for a conversation with its inaugural Editor-in-chief, Noah Eckstein, who's taking the lead in shaping a ...
Mar 11, 2025•26 min•Ep. 138
In a new effort to enhance communications in the Catskills, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is partnering with New York's ConnectALL initiative to expand wireless and broadband access throughout the New York City watershed. The initiative was motivated by operational challenges faced by DEP staff due to poor cell coverage, and a recent Request for Information (RFI) seeks input from telecommunications providers and other stakeholders on how to eliminate cell phone d...
Feb 25, 2025•51 min•Ep. 137
Exploring the Legacy of Clayton 'Peg Leg' Bates: The One-Legged Dancing Legend In this live episode of Kaatscast, recorded at the Emerson Resort & Spa on November 8, 2024, host Brett Barry engages in a detailed discussion with Elinor Levy, Folk Arts Program Manager at Arts Mid Hudson, about the life and legacy of Clayton 'Peg Leg' Bates. The show explores Bates' inspiring journey from losing a leg in a cotton gin accident at the age of 12 to becoming one of the most celebrated tap dancers, p...
Feb 11, 2025•45 min•Ep. 136
Justin Kolb is an accomplished pianist who began playing at the age of four. Now 82, Justin continues to practice almost daily and performs intimate house concerts called "From the Bench," showcasing music "by living American composers as well as music that lives in undeserved obscurity." Justin shares vivid memories from his early competitions to his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and recounts his time in the military where he balanced service with a budding concert career. After a ...
Jan 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 135
Grilled Cheese with a Twist: Lunch and Jam with New York First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer Join us for a delightful culinary and conversational journey with Silda Wall Spitzer in her Hudson Valley home. In this episode, we explore Silda's gourmet jam business and taste a unique grilled cheese featuring brie and blueberry elderflower jam. Silda shares memories of how her jam-making journey began, her experiences as the former First Lady of New York, and her ongoing passion for sustainability and comm...
Jan 14, 2025•24 min•Ep. 134
The episode explores a long-standing tradition of square dancing at the Chase (now Sparer) family home and barn, in Ashokan. Host Brett Barry and production intern Olivia Sippel put on their dancing shoes and joined the fun, recording tales of traditional Catskills square dancing, and the musicians who are passing it down to a new generation of enthusiasts. Fiddler and caller Earl Pardini leads the festivities at this particular event, which goes back to the 1970s. The barn where it's held has a...
Dec 31, 2024•18 min•Ep. 133
Unveiling the Mysteries of the North American Porcupine In this episode of 'Kaatscast,' host Brett Barry delves into the fascinating world of the North American porcupine with Uldis Roze, the world's foremost expert on this mysterious and lovable Catskills rodent. Hear about the porcupine's habitat preferences, diet, mating behaviors, and unique defense mechanisms. Roze addresses common misconceptions, shares personal encounters, and reveals insights from his decades-long research, including the...
Dec 17, 2024•42 min•Ep. 132
This episode of "Katz"cast delves into the fascinating life and career of Morris Katz, a Polish-born Holocaust survivor and acclaimed painter known for his lightning-fast painting technique using a palette knife and toilet paper! Recognized by the Guinness World Records, Katz captivated audiences with his vibrant performance art in the Catskills, creating over 280,000 pieces. Learn about his unique method, his impact on Jewish cultural history, and recent exhibitions celebrating his work. Listen...
Dec 03, 2024•22 min•Ep. 131
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Kaatscast visits the unique International Museum of Dinnerware Design in Kingston, New York. Founded by Margaret Carney in 2012, the museum recently found its new home, offering dedicated exhibitions that celebrate the art and history of dining. This episode highlights the museum's two inaugural exhibits, 'Dining Grails,' featuring renowned designers like Eva Zeisel; and 'Dining Memories,' showcasing a diverse array of dinnerware in nostalgic vignettes. And for an ...
Nov 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 130
This episode of Kaatscast delves into the transformative period of the 1830s in the United States, marked by mass enfranchisement and significant demographic changes. The focus narrows to New York's Anti-Rent War (1839-1845), a period of political violence rooted in immigration anxiety and financial distress. Rebecca Rego Barry , our new literary correspondent (!), interviews author Jennifer Kabat about her new book, The Eighth Moon , which explores the Anti-Rent War and its legacy in the Catski...
Nov 05, 2024•37 min•Ep. 129
We sat down with historian Samantha Misa in the Frisbee family cemetery to uncover some witchy tales from our collective Catskills past. Just in time for Halloween, Samantha shares some haunted encounters from Delaware County's Frisbee House and recounts tales from her book, Witches of the Catskills , including Molly Meyers, "witch cat," in Gilboa area's "Spook Woods." Misa recounts the challenges of researching historical witchcraft, using old newspapers and archival records to reconstruct the ...
Oct 22, 2024•21 min•Ep. 128
This episode takes us to the Woodstock Film Festival's Youth Film Lab , a three-week intensive filmmaking program for teens in Kingston, NY. Each summer, participants learn filmmaking from industry professionals like Gregg Bray, Megan Sperry, Saskia Madlener, and David Becker. The YFL provides a tuition-free launchpad for young filmmakers to produce documentaries and narrative films, which go on in the fall to be screened at the Woodstock Film Festival . 00:00 Introduction to a Creative Journe...
Oct 08, 2024•20 min•Ep. 127
More than Maps: Insights from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference In this episode of Kaatscast, host Brett Barry interviews Melissa Cascini, Senior Program Coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference , during a hike on the Upper Ridge Trail at the Catskills Visitor Center . Melissa shares her journey with the organization, highlighting the importance of their iconic, durable trail maps and the broader scope of the Trail Conference's activities, including trail maintenance, publ...
Sep 24, 2024•17 min•Ep. 126
In the early 20th century, Cauliflower Was King in the western Catskills, and –– especially in the good years –– farmers called it "white gold." Historian Diane Galusha describes the origins of cauliflower farming in Margaretville, the rise and fall of the industry from the 1890s to the 1950s (and beyond), and the notable contribution of the Van Benschoten family. Plus, voices from the annual Cauliflower Festival , celebrating its 20th year on September 21, 2024. 00:00 Introduction to Caulif...
Sep 10, 2024•26 min•Ep. 125
In this episode of Kaatscast , we explore the journey of Emily Li Mandri, founder of the women's accessories brand MLE , based in Saugerties, New York. Emily shares insights into the challenges and rewards of running a fashion brand in Upstate New York, her commitment to eco-conscious materials and sustainable fashion, and the influence of her family's background in apparel. We also hear from her assistant, New Paltz theater grad Kiana Duggan-Haas, about the importance of sustainability in the f...
Aug 27, 2024•20 min•Ep. 124
Mark Hearon didn't always drink coffee, but when he got started, he was all in. Now, he's roasting fair trade organic coffee at an 1872 general store that also carries gourmet sandwiches and local essentials –– beer, bread, milk, fishing bait, even a fill-up for your car from a vintage gas pump, making it a unique one-stop-shop for both locals and travelers. Joined by his daughter Ashley Hearon-Smith, the store’s part-time publicist and social media manager, Mark shares his journey from discover...
Aug 13, 2024•19 min•Ep. 123
Michael Kudish is a Catskills legend and the authority on Catskills trees and forests. In 1971, Kudish earned his PhD with the thesis, "Vegetational History of the Catskill High Peaks." Five decades later, that research is ongoing. In 2000, Purple Mountain Press published his landmark book, The Catskill Forest: A History . Now, an updated 6-volume set is in the works. I met up with Michael at his home/research library in Delaware County, to hear about his latest research sampling Catskills bogs ...
Jul 30, 2024•55 min•Ep. 122
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Hark! On this day's Kaatscast , we journey to the quaint village of Hunter in fair New York, whereupon Catskill Mountain Shakespeare doth present a stirring rendition of the noble tragedy, Julius Caesar . Attend thee this discourse with the esteemed founder and artistic director, Sarah Reny. And verily, seize thee a billet, for this performance doth breathe new life into a timeless saga. --- Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Boo...
Jul 16, 2024•24 min•Ep. 121
The Bruderhof is a worldwide community of 3,000 Christians who, inspired by the early church, share their money and possessions, and practice "full-time discipleship," working, dining, and singing together. Perhaps you've bumped into one of their members out in the world (women can be identified by their conservative dress, reminiscent of Amish or colonial attire). Here in the Catskills is a sizable community of 240 residents, in Greene County's Platte Clove. They invited me in for a firsthand l...
Jul 02, 2024•43 min•Ep. 120
Dede Terns-Thorpe is the historian for the Town of Hunter, referred to locally as "the mountain top," and comprising the villages of Hunter and Tannersville, and the hamlets of Edgewood, Elka Park, Lanesville, and Platte Clove, plus the historic private communities: Onteora Park, Twilight Park, and Elka Park. Dede's passionate about the history of this place, and she's got her own history here, too, which is mostly what we talked about when we met at Tannersville's Mountain Top library. We were ...
Jun 18, 2024•33 min•Ep. 119
Join us for our very first LIVE show, recorded at Emerson Resort & Spa as part of their weekend celebration of Ralph Waldo's birthday (born May 25, 1803). Hear from Catskills scholars and writers Leslie T. Sharpe and Bill Birns , with music by Steve Koester ! Q&A with the audience, and more! --- If you missed the live event, you can still play our trivia! Top three submissions win 2 drink tokens to the Catamount bar + a CD of Henry David Thoreau's Autumnal Tints ! Contest is now closed. ...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 118
Municipal sewer systems are few and far between in the rural Catskills, so chances are high that your home is reliant on its own septic system. And if that system isn't maintained, well, things could get ugly at the most inopportune time. Thanks to some beefy financial incentives from the Catskill Watershed Corporation , there's really no excuse to delay septic maintenance, and maybe even a full system replacement. In 2023 alone, the CWC subsidized 312 septic repairs/replacements and 680 mainten...
May 21, 2024•33 min•Ep. 117
