Full Episode

Full episodes of “Connecting Point”

FULL EPISODE: March 23, 2023

Meet Billie J. Farrell, the first female commander of the USS Constitution, the U.S Navy.’s oldest commissioned warship. Then, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center’s Ashley Hufnagel talks about the complex ethics of assigning Queer identities to artists who did not...

FULL EPISODE: March 16, 2023

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, get a sneak peak of this year’s city of Westfield St. Patrick’s Parade float. And, learn how the organization behind the float, the Sons of Erin, have been preserving Irish culture in western Mass for over four...

FULL EPISODE: March 9, 2023

Sláinte! Celebrate the music, food, and traditions of the Emerald Isle at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England in West Springfield. Then, learn about the Women Ordnance Workers (WOWs) who manned the machines at the Springfield Armory during both World...

FULL EPISODE: March 2, 2023

Talk all things western Mass weather – and music – with weather enthusiast and forecaster Dave Hayes the Weather Nut. And, get a glimpse of rare, 18th-century drawings from France in “Promenades on Paper” at the Clark Art Institute. Then, meet local entrepreneur...

FULL EPISODE: February 23, 2023

Head to Race Street in Holyoke and see how Gateway City Arts is re-imagining its role as a cultural hub in the post-pandemic age. Then, visual artist and educator Justin Beatty discusses the history and cultural significance of hairstyles in Black and Indigenous...

FULL EPISODE: February 16, 2023

Visit Comfort Bagel, where you’ll find classic, chewy bagels, local coffee, and a sense of community at the eatery in Holyoke’s Open Square. Then, historian and curator Penni Martorell talks about “Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow,” a poster exhibit at...

FULL EPISODE: February 9, 2023

Meet jazz singer Wanda Houston, whose storied career has taken her to LA, Broadway, and beyond – but she now calls the Berkshires home. Then, Curator of Art Maggie North discusses ‘New/Now’ at the Springfield Museums, an exhibit that showcases how the museums have...

FULL EPISODE: February 2, 2023

Connecting Point hits the road, traveling to Franklin County for an exploration of the small, culturally rich enclave of Turners Falls, part of the town of Montague, MA. While there, NEPM’s Monte Belmonte gives us a tour of his hometown of “Great Falls,” highlighting...

FULL EPISODE: January 26, 2023

Visit fine jewelry maker Heather Beck’s Easthampton studio, where she crafts custom pieces of jewelry and teaches metal working classes. Then, New York Times bestselling author Michael Tougias talks about his new book, “Extreme Survival,” which recounts tales of...

FULL EPISODE: January 19, 2023

Visit the Quabbin Reservoir with Dale Monette, a photographer who captures the magic of nature through his lens. Then, ‘Finding the Words: Stories from Inside’ tells the story of formerly incarcerated women who use writing to heal and find community. And, meet...

FULL EPISODE: January 12, 2023

Witness the magic of North Adams’ Arnold Family Christmas display one last time before the annual tradition goes dark. Then, guest conductor Kevin Scott and Springfield Poet Laureate Magdalena Gómez preview Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s Audacity of Hope concert....

FULL EPISODE: January 5, 2023

This week, our producers reveal their favorite stories from 2022. Originally more well known for her iconic red hat, Sarah Michel is now known as Sarah the Fiddler. Meet Sarah and hear how she blends elements of classical, bluegrass, and Celtic music to create a...