Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City

In this episode, Mike shares his personal history with the Boy Scouts, the details of his Eagle Scout project, how he began his career in journalism, and where he sees the future of scouting in America following the most recent developments in the Boy Scouts’ evolution as a youth organization to embrace inclusion. Mike also explains what he sees as the cyclical nature of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation, and John briefly recaps the final vote total by the Troy City Council on the annual LGBTQ Pride Month proclamation (spoiler alert: it wasn’t unanimous).

“Morally Straight: How the Fi...

With Pride Month underway, we're diving into an often-forgotten part of American LGBTQ+ history, expertly told by Mike De Socio, Troy-based independent journalist, podcaster, and author of the new book “Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—And America” which documents the fight to end a decades-long ban on gay people from the Boy Scouts of America.

“Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—And America“ is available now, wherever books are sold.

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Cre...

In this preview clip, Mike De Socio (author of the excellent new book “Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—And America”) discusses the continued evolution of the Boy Scouts of America and the organization’s embrace of inclusion, and what he sees as the cyclical nature of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation. John also notes the final vote by the Troy City Council on the annual Pride Month proclamation.

Full episode coming June 2024.

“Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—And America“ is available June 4, 2024, wherever books...

In this bonus segment, Tri-City ValleyCats vice president and general manager Matt Callahan discusses the history of bobbleheads in minor league baseball, the ValleyCats' process behind deciding who will be permanently immortalized as a member of the team's bobblehead lineup, and the roots of the 'Mayor's Race' event familiar to Capital Region baseball fans.

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Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and...

In the second half our our interview, Matt explains the ValleyCats' move to the independent Frontier League, and the obstacles the club overcame during COVID and the contraction of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) minor league system. We also dig into the archives to explore Troy’s deep links to baseball’s earliest days, including the first-ever grand slam in MLB history, hit by a Troy Trojan right here in Rensselaer County.

If you haven’t heard part 1 of Chapter 05, we strongly recommend you go back and check out the first half.

Show Notes:

Looking for baseball puns? Well, you’ve come to the right place! This week, we're thrilled to have Matt Callahan, VP and General Manager of the Tri-City ValleyCats as our guest for Chapter 05. We talk all things Gatos, including what fans can expect during this month’s home opener at The Joe in Troy, New York, the team’s now-22 seasons in the Collar City, and the challenges of running day-to-day operations for a minor league baseball team.

This episode also features a preview of a very special clip from a future chapter of Troy Story: A Podcas...

The date was March 15th, 1989. Legions of heavy metal fans descended on Troy, New York to see Metallica at the RPI Field House. The band was rampaging across America on their “Damaged Justice” tour in support of their latest studio album “…and Justice for All,” and the Collar City stop would become a something of a noteworthy show from that era in the band’s history.

Did you see Metallica at the RPI Field House in 1989? We would love to hear from you for a special episode we’re working on.

Help us revisit and celebrate this...

In the second half of our interview with Amanda Tobias, we explore her decision to run for City Council in 2019, the controversial but ultimately necessary closure of the Lansingburgh pool, the importance of young people getting involved in local elections, her favorite things about Troy, and what she wants to see happen in the community during the next 10 years.

Please stick around after the interview for a preview of a very special episode revisiting a major concert in Collar City history: Metallica at the RPI Field House, March 1989  (and an opportunity for you to be part of t...

We’re back with Chapter 04 featuring our interview with Amanda Tobias, resident of Troy's historic Lansingburgh neighborhood, graduate of Lansingburgh High School, and middle school teacher.

During our chat, we explored Amanda's early life growing up in Rensselaer County and Troy, her years attending various schools in Lansingburgh Central School District, the teachers who inspired her decision to pursue a career in education, her advice to current high school students thinking about their future, and her own family’s roots in the segregated South. 

Subscribe for email updates on upcoming guests, chapters, and special bonus conte...

In the second half of our conversation, Dan revisits his long career in the food service industry, the difficulties of balancing work and family life as he rose through the ranks of various positions within the corporate food industry, and the obstacles and challenges he and countless other restaurants encountered beginning in 2019 through the pandemic and post-pandemic period.

Listen to part 1 of the Dan Frament interview on Apple Podcasts.

There was so much to unpack during the course of the interview, and Dan did so with candor, grace, and positivity. It was a genuine privilege...