Episodes

“Stories tell you what’s important to people.” - A.J. Schenkman Thanks to Jennifer Santiago and Jenny Leifer of The Valley Girls podcast, I was introduced to a writer and public school teacher A.J. Schenckman. He writes a lot...

Hudson, New York is still a new place for me, so this episode Cidiot tries to take a short cut to getting to know why the way things are. I find the best way to do this is through people …

Carole Osterink writes The Gossips of Rivertown, a blog that is news and commentary (and takes its name from a novel by a Hudson writer). It’s a must-read for all of us who live here. This episode tune into Carole’s …

This episode, Mat shares the news of moving—still within the Hudson Valley of course. Some thoughts on change and new opportunities. Some questions too. Are you still a cidiot if you move back to a city? Links to what’s menti...

What is it about water? The Hudson River is the central fixture of the Hudson Valley, so Mat honors it as the muse and focus of this episode. He shares a poem by William Cullen Bryant about the Hudson, “A …

This episode, Mat talks to Freddy Pikovsky, co-founder of Barnfox . Barnfox is a co-working community across the Hudson Valley, with locations in Hudson, Kingston, Livingston Manor, and Poughkeepsie. Freddy shares how early e...

Join Cidiot® for a conversation with Ryan Wexler, a local volunteer fire captain to hear about what it’s like to be a firefighter. Mat learns about ways to volunteer and support local fire departments, why you should buy a 91...

Cidiot’s last crossover event was Episode 77 with Brett Barry of Kaatscast: The Catskills Podcast . Well, I just discovered the new Valley Girls podcast, so synchronized to release at the same time, here I interview them abou...

You know I love chickens, but my biggest curiosity is with cows. So was very excited to talk to Kyle and Amanda from Gulden Farm . Kyle and Amanda grew up in the area and join us for a special …

90 percent of podcasts don’t publish more than three episodes. And of the 200,000 shows that do go beyond three, 90 percent will quit after 20 episodes. So hitting 100 episodes like Cidiot ® does this month is a rare …

Cidiot ®'s back! Jason Bover, photographer, foodie and founder of Ulster Eateries Unfiltered, joins to kick of Season 7. He shares with Mat his relationship to the Hudson Valley, growing up in the food and bev business and lo...

It's holiday time and this episode is coming to you live from Hudson Winter Walk and a live performance. Mat closes out this amazing season of Cidiot® by sharing what he got from Spotify Unwrapped about the show as well …

“Pick one exercise in every plane of motion” — Jakob Roze Jakob is this episode’s special guest. Originally from the Catskills, schooled in Saratoga, started a business in New York, and now back upstate, we talk about moving ...

Where should we grow old? Is the Hudson Valley a good place for aging? More and more people think so. And when you find your place, how should we plan for it? How can we stay in our home? How …

In a special spontaneous episode, Cidiot® takes you live to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds (October 21-22, 2023). Mat has no idea what he's looking at but luckily Rachel Zive and her par...

What makes the Hudson Valley special for creative people? This episode, Cidiot talks to Jordan Koschei about building ConnectHV , a creative “network of networks” for creative people in the Hudson Valley and Jordan’s idea of ...

Mat gives an update on the gardening project, including flowers vs. vegetables competition. Though his voice notes, you probably get too close to the amateur he is and the struggles he faces — not to mention the neglect he em...

Upstate, living in a small town, I pop into all my favorite spots all the time. I try to always buy something but I’m also a bit of a gossip and always want to know what’s new. People ask about …

Do you love where you live? Mat sure does. Already a champion, advocate, even a shill for people moving to the Hudson Valley, Mat takes it to the next level by becoming a Certified Tourist Ambassador in Dutchess County. In …

After missing it last year, Mat explores the big annual event that is Upstate Art Weekend . More than 130 artists participate across the Hudson Valley, including Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland,...

Why do we move here? To either open—or eat at—restaurants like Bimi's. And live in—or visit—towns like Chatham. This episode is about Bimi's Canteen , about Ellen & Chris, about a deliciously quaint village called Chatham, NY...

Mat finally takes up gardening but in the safety and security of an adopted small garden plot at Four Corners Community Farm. It's a learning experience for sure, so join him via his audio journal as he tries to grow …

This episode is all about cheese. Who doesn't love it? To answer them all, Cidiot interviews Lauren Cunningham-Housman, owner of The Corner Counter, a new cheese and provisions shop in Red Hook, NY. Lauren worked for years wi...

Sometimes the show takes you to new places, and sometimes the way to get there is the destination. U.S. Route 9 is historic—for much of the portion in New York State, it's The Albany Post Road. Join Cidiot ® for …