When Pulitzer prize-winning author William Kennedy put his five-year-old son Brendan to bed one night many years ago, he made up a story about a boy whose belly button was stolen. The improvised bedtime story went on to become a published children's book in 1986, co-written with his then-teenaged son. Almost 40 years later, the pair is hoping their story and others will inspire a love of literature among kids in the Capital Region and beyond. On this episode of The Eagle, the "Ironweed" author a...
Sep 24, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 37
During a week that saw rising COVID-19 positivity, escalating tension between police and social justice activists in Saratoga Springs, and continued political fallout from a potentially illegal leak in the state's ethics oversight commission, a little levity came from news of the return of an annual naked stroll through Howe Caverns. Also on this episode, Kristi Gustafson Barlette talks about her recent column on kids returning to school in masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The column ...
Sep 17, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 36
In the two decades since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, annual memorials have been an opportunity for many to reflect and heal. For others, they are a constant reminder of shock and loss that remains as fresh as it was 20 years ago. On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union columnist Paul Grondahl recounts his experience covering the aftermath of the attacks from Ground Zero, something he never imagined he'd have had to do when he boarded an early train to Manhatt...
Sep 10, 2021•45 min
TV news anchor and reporter Paulina Bucka left Newschannel 13 this year after just four months on the job. On this episode of The Eagle, she talks to Kristi Gustafson Barlette about why she left the station, why she thinks so many of her fellow local broadcast journalists are leaving the industry, and why she’s starting a new podcast. Also on this episode, nearly three years after a tragic limo crash in Schoharie county killed 20 people, the operator of the limo company pleads guilty to criminal...
Sep 03, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 34
This week the Capital Region saw a tropical storm, the installation of New York's first woman as governor, the tragic drowning of a state trooper, and a call for the attorney general to investigate an alleged leak of confidential information from the state's ethics oversight commission. But none of these headlines came close to the traffic the Times Union saw on its reporting on Captain, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's dog. The energetic shepherd mix was thrust into the spotlight this week, mere d...
Aug 27, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Should kids be forced to wear face coverings at school this fall? As COVID-10 cases increase across the state, most schools will implement a universal mask policy – but some parents strongly oppose mask mandates. On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Managing Editor Susan Mehalick discuss the week's top headlines, including the story of an Albany mom who is desperately trying to get her children out of Afghanistan. Plus, Cuomo's upcoming departure from the ...
Aug 20, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has submitted his resignation. What comes next? Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo Democrat, will become the first female governor in New York's history. But she inherits a state still reeling from the scandal surrounding her predecessor, and facing rising delta variant positivity. On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Managing Editor Brendan Lyons weigh in on what New Yorkers can expect to happen in the next few weeks, as the transition ...
Aug 13, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 31
One of the women who has accused embattled New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of sexual harassment is a current staffer named Brittany Commisso. Referred to as "Executive Assistant #1" in State Attorney General Tish James' scathing report released last week, Commisso alleges the governor groped her at the Executive Mansion in November. She has come forward and identified herself this week in an exclusive interview with the Times Union and CBS News. On this special episode of "The Eagle," we'll hear f...
Aug 09, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Embattled New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo faces a hailstorm of troubles this week—including growing calls for his resignation—after New York State Attorney General Letitia James released a scathing report that determined he sexually harassed 11 women, and broke several state and federal laws. On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons, whose calls with the governor's top aides were included as evidence in the report, go t...
Aug 06, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Is there a cache worth millions ensconced somewhere in the Hudson Valley? Treasure hunters have long believed the early-20th century New York gangster Dutch Schultz hinted at hidden money and gold during delirious ramblings to police on his deathbed. Nothing has ever been unearthed, yet the area in and around Phoenicia, New York, remains a destination for those who are convinced it exists. On this episode of The Eagle, Hudson Valley News Editor Cloey Callahan talks about the legend. Also on this...
Jul 23, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 28
From Secretariat and American Pharoah and Tiz the Law and Bodacious Tatas, what goes into naming a thoroughbred racehorse? And what are the rules? On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union sports reporter Abigail Rubel explains common strategies and naming conventions, and what's not allowed by The Jockey Club. Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein speaks to UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez about the challenges of increasing diversity among tenured faculty. Plus, columni...
Jul 16, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 27
What happens to used cooking oil after restaurants have finished with it? A criminal syndicate has developed a sophisticated scheme to steal the grease from Capital Region eateries and sell it on the black market. On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Pete DeMola talks about his investigation into the claims of a Buffalo-based oil recycling outfit that estimates the string of recent thefts are costing them $300,000 per week. Also on this episode, reporter Massarah Mikati discusses her profile o...
Jul 09, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 26
A federal judge sentenced Allison Mack to three years in prison this week for her role supplying sex "slaves" to NXIVM leader Keith Raniere. Times Union reporter Rob Gavin and Eagle host Jessica Marshall traveled to Brooklyn for the hearing, where one of Mack's victims compared her to Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged enabler of late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. On this episode of The Eagle, Gavin and Marshall they discuss what went on inside—and outside—the courtroom. Also on this episode, rep...
Jul 02, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Former television actress and high-ranking NXIVM member Allison Mack awaits her sentence June 30 for crimes involving Keith Raniere’s cult-like organization. On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Rob Gavin talks to Tabby Chapman, a former NXIVM coach who worked closely with Mack for a time. Chapman shares her thoughts about the sentencing and experiences with Mack, recalling both an infectious charisma and the "Smallville" star's unpredictable darker side. Also on this episode, reporter Ed McKi...
Jun 25, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 24
As the country prepared this month to celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day, Collectiveffort's Jamel Mosely spent time getting to know Alice Green, Barbara Smith and Earl Thorpe, three trailblazing Black elders in the Capital Region. His filmed interviews became part of Hearst's Lift Every Voice project, which shared stories, experiences and reflections on being Black in America. On this episode of The Eagle, Mosely talks about his vision for the project, and what he learned from the tr...
Jun 18, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Nearly a third of the population of the city of Albany is Black. The vast majority of those residents live in only three neighborhoods: West Hill, Arbor Hill and the South End. These neighborhoods have the city’s highest poverty rates and lowest percentages of homeownership. On this episode of The Eagle, reporters Massarah Mikati and Eduardo Medina discuss their investigation of how the process of redlining almost a century ago splintered New York's capital city along racial lines, and how it lo...
Jun 11, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 22
What's it like inside one of those massive Amazon fulfillment centers? Times Union reporter Rick Karlin paid a rare visit to the first upstate New York facility of its kind in Schodack this week. On this episode of The Eagle, he tells of a "warehouse on steroids," where hydrogen-powered forklifts, box-building robots and high-tech COVID-19 protocols are all contained within a structure the size of a mall. Also on this episode, reporter Chris Bragg discusses Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's unwillingness t...
Jun 04, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Milton resident and adoptee Cindy Dort has spent half her life searching for biological family. But it has not resulted in the happy ending you'd see on TV shows like TLC's "Long Lost Family." Instead, hers is a rare case marked by twists, turns, dead ends, uncertainty and tragedy. On this episode of The Eagle: A Times Union Podcast, reporter Leigh Hornbeck and Cindy Dort recount the story of her ill-fated quest to find out where she came from. Also on this episode, reporter Claire Bryan takes a...
May 28, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 20
The now-convicted NXIVM ringleader Keith Raniere is in federal prison, most likely for the rest of his life. High-ranking members of his inner circle still await sentence hearing dates. And a small faction of former members remain loyal to Raniere as he attempts to clear his name on appeal. The ongoing NXIVM saga is the focus of former VICE senior editor and Vancouver-based investigative reporter Sarah Berman's new book, “Don’t Call it a Cult.” On this episode of The Eagle, Berman talks to Times...
May 14, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Who gets to make what food? When does cooking cross the line from culinary appreciation to appropriation of another culture's cuisine? On this episode of The Eagle, a diverse panel of chefs, restaurateurs and culture observers discuss this contentious issue, and how it affects the Capital Region food scene. Also on this episode, reporter Shrishti Mathew talks about anxiety within the local Indian community as they watch a COVID-19 outbreak ravage India from afar. And singer-songwriter Michael Je...
May 07, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 18
What if Cain were on trial in a modern-day courtroom for the murder of his brother, Abel? Rabbi Dan Ornstein explores this biblical scenario and its implications in a new novel "Cain v. Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama." On this episode of The Eagle: A Times Union Podcast, we talk to the Albany-based Jewish leader and author about his book, and his thoughts on a rising tide of anti-Semitism worldwide largely stoked by pandemic lockdowns. Also on this episode, blogger Kristi Gustafson Barlette open...
Apr 30, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 17
This episode contains explicit language and descriptions of events that may be upsetting to listeners. Please listen with care. It began with a clash in Albany's South End between civil rights protesters and police that resulted in damage to a police station, the use of pepper spray and injury to a protester. At midweek, the conviction of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin brought cautious optimism to activists around the region. And by week's end, tensions once again flared between law...
Apr 23, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 16
This episode contains graphic depictions of events and explicit language. Please listen with care. When folks at the Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany were told they had a few dozen coronavirus vaccines at their disposal to use for their homeless clients, it was a race against time to get as many shots in arms as possible before the doses expired. On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Eduardo Medina recounts his experience following Mission staff on their quest to locate and vaccinate as ma...
Apr 16, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This episode contains graphic depictions of alleged sexual assault. Please take care while listening. The woman at the center of the most serious allegation of sexual misconduct against Gov. Andrew Cuomo told her story this week to Times Union Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons. She says she now sees the experience as an escalating sequence of inappropriate overtures that occurred over roughly two years, including groping at the governor's mansion. On this episode of The Eagle, Lyons s...
Apr 09, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 14
When Albany activist Kat Sullivan heard a satirical sea shanty about the ship that recently clogged the Suez Canal, she was inspired to try her hand at the trending musical genre. On a rainy Sunday morning, she set to work composing and filming her own shanty detailing the fallout from a whistleblower's complaint of potential safety hazards in the construction of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, as first reported by the Times Union. On this episode of The Eagle, Editor Casey Seiler speaks wit...
Apr 02, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Activism in the Asian American Pacific Islander communities of the Capital Region gained a new sense of urgency this week in the aftermath of the Atlanta shootings that left eight dead, including six women of Asian descent. A rally in Albany brought out hundreds, some of whom had been empowered to use their voices for the first time to speak out against xenophobia and violence toward Asian Americans. Reporter Pete DeMola spoke with one of the rally's organizers, Troy business-owner Jinah Kim, ab...
Mar 26, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 12
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its annual Academy Award nominations each year, everyone in the Times Union newsroom and beyond turns immediately to features writer and movie buff C.J. Lais for his estimation of the nominees, and his educated prediction of the winners. On this episode of The Eagle, we'll hear his hot take on the upcoming Oscars. Also on this episode, we say farewell to an intrepid reporter, and get the latest developments in the multifarious contro...
Mar 19, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Exactly one year ago this week, the coronavirus pandemic changed the Capital Region as we knew it. Schools closed, events canceled, and businesses shuttered. People were told to stay home and social distance. The Times Union newsroom went virtual. Today, the region has endured immeasurable loss, with more than 1,000 dead from COVID-19. Yet as vaccine distribution picks up pace and the community reflects on the last year, features writer and blogger Kristi Gustafson Barlette discovered that some ...
Mar 12, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 10
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by three women during a press conference this week in Albany, offering an apology into the camera and admitting he was embarrassed by the circumstances in which he finds himself. A little less than a year ago, Cuomo's tough pandemic response sent his approval ratings and national popularity soaring. Now, the three-term governor is mired in controversy - the sexual harassment allegations being the la...
Mar 05, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Last week marked the 76th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima — a brutal, bloody fight that effectively ended the war in the Pacific in 1945. A small group of Capital Region veterans would've typically gathered to mark this anniversary at a café in Altamont, where they’d swap stories. This year the dwindling group, now in their mid-90s, didn't have that option, with a pandemic raging and the café closed. Yet they still got together on the phone. On this episode of the Eagle, repor...
Feb 26, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 8
