Good News York by Growth Mode Content

Becca Brown on Cadaver Labs, PA Training, and Hearing Her Eyes Move On Good News York, host interviews Becca Brown, a Le Moyne professor teaching gross anatomy in the physician assistant program and a per diem surgical PA at St. Joe’s. Becca explains what PAs do, how Le Moyne’s licensed whole-body cadaver lab operates through Upstate’s anatomical gift program, and how students react to first dissections, including dark humor, facial dissection challenges, anatomical variability, and surprises like implantable defibrillators beeping. She discusses Le Moyne’s small-school feel and health-professions offerings, emphasizing compassionate, competent training and communicating medical...

Holly Adams on Clowning as Service, Voice Acting Craft, and Creating The Mysterious Chirp Host Noah Chrysler welcomes performer and voice actor Holly Adams to Good News York to discuss commedia dell’arte archetypes, clowning, voiceover work, and her sci‑fi mystery podcast. Holly shares how humor helped her through high school, leading to training in commedia and clowning, and describes hospital/war-zone clowning as service, including work with the real Patch Adams via the Gesundheit Institute and a project trip after 9/11 that brought clowns to Afghanistan to support civilians and hospitals. She explains that this work isn’t always...

Author-Illustrator Katie Reiser on Welcome to the Forest, Gouache Painting, and Kids’ Comics Publishing On Good News York, host Noah interviews Syracuse-based author and children’s book illustrator Katie Reiser about her early reader graphic novel series Welcome to the Forest, which she writes and hand-paints in gouache. She describes the books’ seasonal adventures—The Harvest Party (fall), The Lake Trip (summer), and an in-progress winter installment—and explains gouache as an opaque, matte, water-soluble paint used historically in illustration and film. Reiser outlines her workflow from thumbnails to digital layout (using Affinity) to printing on watercolor paper and painting...

Adam Ast on Running Syracuse’s Palace Theatre, 35mm Projection, and Making Art Without Chasing Money On Good News York, host interviews Adam Ast (pronounced “Ast”), manager of Syracuse’s Palace Theatre, about running a busy multi-use venue that hosts everything from bands and ballet to meetings and a Volkswagen promo shoot, while balancing high monthly overhead and operating deficits. Ast describes learning the job under pressure, maintaining and renegotiating longstanding rentals, and opening the theatre to local community groups on flexible or split-revenue arrangements, including Syracuse Improv and Syracuse Actors Studio. He recounts his background as a 1990s projecti...

From NFL Center to Syracuse Project Leader: Mackie McPherson on Identity, Mental Health, and Reinvention On Good News York, host Noah interviews Mackie McPherson, a Syracuse native who played center at CBA and for the Syracuse Orange, served as team captain, and briefly played for the Buffalo Bills. Mackie describes the immense day-to-day NFL pressure and mental health toll, explains the center’s role and on-field communication, and connects sports leadership to teamwork in improv and D&D. He recounts the difficult identity transition after being cut, coaching college football for seven years, and an especially brutal start to 2020 th...

Bruce Coville on Writing, Empathy, and Cherishing Oddballs On “Good News York,” the host interviews children’s author Bruce Coville about his career and the impact of books like “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher” and “My Teacher Is an Alien.” Coville describes writing across formats, his sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Crandall inspiring him (and receiving the dedication), and how “My Teacher Is an Alien” became his breakthrough after years of work. He discusses why negative childhood memories linger, how arts projects and plays matter in schools, and argues that stories teach empathy better than writing to preach lessons. Coville reflects on being an “oddball...

Nick-E on Syracuse’s Music Scene, Mental Health, and Building a Career in 2026 On Good News York, host interviews Syracuse, New York artist Nick-E about starting music as a high school freshman, facing both support and ridicule, and using that as fuel to study lyric writing and wordplay. Nick-E describes performing mostly in New York City and Albany, often as an energetic opening act, and explains Syracuse’s diverse local music scene, naming artists like Big Sexy, Skyla Beef, and the VCM crew. He records at Red Brick Recording in Central Square and recommends venues and networking routes such as S...

Syracuse Improv’s Johnny Nolan on Spooky D&D Improv, Workshops, and Building a Comedy Community On Good News York, host Noah interviews Johnny Nolan, co-founder of Syracuse Improv, about growing the group from a small library meetup to 40+ attendees per workshop and multiple shows. They promote an upcoming Monday, October 26 Halloween-themed Dungeons & Dragons improv show at the Song & Dance, where performers and the audience create characters and an adventure on the spot, with a twist following monsters instead of heroes, plus costumes, a contest sponsored by Birdie and Dice, and tickets via syracuseimprov.com. They describe beginner-friendly free wo...

Jeff the Magic Man on Balloon Art, Magic, and Reimagining the Festival Line | Good News York Host Noah Chrysler welcomes Jeff D’Ambrosio (Jeff the Magic Man) to Good News York, where Jeff introduces himself as a children’s entertainer, balloon artist, magician, stilt walker, and puppeteer. He rapidly makes a balloon dog and shows a more elaborate balloon “person” he often calls Bob, then shares how he started in middle school after being inspired by local “Twin Magicians,” took lessons, and gained early practice volunteering at a church carnival. Jeff discusses competing at the international Twist and Shout conference i...

Mark O’Donnell on Strategic Planning, Goal Alignment, and Keys to Successful Leadership On Good News York, host Noah interviews Mark O’Donnell, founder of Operations Excellence and host of the Operations Excellence Podcast, about his consulting work in leadership and organizational development focused on people, process, and strategy. Mark describes helping for-profit and not-for-profit organizations with strategic planning, implementation discipline, and serving as an outside accountability partner, plus leadership development and ongoing coaching. Using Noah’s nonprofit Syracuse Improv as an example, Mark outlines a planning framework: start with a vision statement, then mission (12–18 months), core values, critical success...

Bringing Salt Back to Salt City: Syracuse Salt Company on History, Harvesting, and Flavor-Infused Salts Host Noah Chrysler interviews David and Libby of Syracuse Salt Company, a family business started 11 years ago that harvests brine from a ~280–300-foot well in Syracuse, evaporates it into flake salt, and infuses flavors to help “bring salt back to the Salt City.” They explain Syracuse’s salt-industry peak from the 1700s through about 1920 and its decline due to railroads, coastal production, and reduced Erie Canal use; the local brine is about three times saltier than the ocean and originates from an ancient sea. They des...

Fiber Artist Allison Altafi on Handspun Yarn, Frame Weaving, and Hustling in the Art World On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Syracuse-based fiber artist Allison Altafi about her frame-based weaving practice using handspun wool and cotton “art yarn” to create structural, textural works that blur craft, sculpture, and fine art. Altafi discusses her piece “The Day It Happened,” shown in a Manhattan gallery exhibition (with the show continuing online via Untitled Space Gallery/Artsy), and explains how her work ranges from joyful “color melts” to darker themes of grief and uncertainty. She shares tactical advice for artists about applyi...

Hassan Stevens on Good Life Youth Foundation: Hip-Hop, Entrepreneurship, and Helping High-Risk Youth Thrive Matt Masur of Good News York interviews Hassan Stevens, a Bronx native and former radio/TV personality (Hot 97.9, Power 106.9, NewsChannel 9) who founded the Good Life Youth Foundation after the media industry downsized. The nonprofit serves high-risk, system-involved, and struggling students in Syracuse and ESM schools, using hip-hop culture to connect youth to entrepreneurship as a “survival framework” to help them thrive long-term and reduce recidivism. The organization runs programs and studios at 101 Wyoming Street (music, content creation, photography, and promotional printing) and has helped students grad...

Andrea Dato on The Dusty and Dot Company, Puppetry, and The Hurt Monster Premiering in Syracuse On Good News York, host interviews Andrea Dato, president and co-founder of The Dusty and Dot Company, a central New York multidisciplinary creative studio focused on theater programming, education, and puppetry. Andrea shares the company’s origins with her husband and co-founder Brendan Malafronte, including their characters Dot and Dusty, and discusses their recent work on Syracuse Stage’s Frozen, where Brendan played Olaf and Andrea understudied and performed twice. She previews The Hurt Monster, a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant–supported world premie...

Good News York Celebrates 200 Episodes and Announces Sponsorship Opportunities Matt Masur hosts a special 200th episode of Good News York from their studio at the former Spaghetti Warehouse, celebrating the show’s mission to spotlight positive stories across New York State and noting the series has earned millions of views. Co-host Noah and a room of past guests briefly introduce themselves and share their work, including leadership development workshops combining performing arts and business concepts, CNY Jazz’s Jazz in the City concert series and education programs, community events like Winter Fair, Vera House services and shelter expansion plans, Sena...

Badger Previews Syracuse Nationals 2026: Horsepower After Hours, 7,000 Cars, and Family Fun On Good News York, host interviews Brian “Badger,” operations manager for the Syracuse Nationals, described as the largest car show in the Northeast, held July 16–18 at the New York State Fairgrounds. Badger outlined extensive week-of setup logistics involving trailers, tents, generators, electricians, and coordination with a small 6–7 person core team supported by volunteers, local car clubs, and security. He previewed Thursday’s “Horsepower After Hours” kickoff party with $5 after 5 admission, lowrider exhibitions, modern muscle cars on a dyno with Mobile Dyno Masters, a stereo competition, Nitro Row cars, and live music...

Good News York: Gracie Thorpe on Crouse Health Foundation’s Polo for Preemies and Supporting the NICU On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Gracie Thorpe, interim executive director of the Crouse Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Crouse Hospital. Thorpe highlights the upcoming Polo for Preemies event on Sunday, July 26 at the Skaneateles Polo Fields, featuring a live polo match, food trucks, adult beverages, and a kid zone, with proceeds supporting Crouse’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She explains how donations can be unrestricted or directed to specific funds, units, scholarships, or projects. Thorpe describes the NICU...

Brandon Ciotti on Building Central New York Stand-Up, Writing Jokes, and Upcoming Palace Theatre Showcase On Good News York, host Noah interviews stand-up comedian and improv performer Brandon Ciotti from Utica, New York, who began comedy about four years ago and has been performing around the state. Ciotti promotes a July 17 showcase at the Palace Theatre on James Street in Syracuse (doors 6:00/6:30, show 7:00, tickets on the Palace website) featuring Becky Wiggins, Connor McCann, Jason Gowan, Tommy Armstrong, and Abdul Hadi. He discusses adapting stories into tight stand-up by trimming “fat,” using punchlines, and relying on pauses and a Cliff Note...

Frank Malfitano Previews the 40th Syracuse International Jazz Fest (July 9–12) Host Matt Masur interviews Frank Malfitano, founder and longtime producer of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest, who describes the festival as a free, community-supported labor of love rather than a money-making venture. Malfitano highlights the event’s inclusive “big tent” audience and family-friendly atmosphere, and outlines the 40th anniversary schedule: July 9 at Syracuse University’s National Veterans Resource Center featuring the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note big band; July 10–11 at Beacon Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette with acts including Hijira (Joni Mitchell’s jazz), Dumpstaphunk paying tribute to Sly & the F...

Micron Project Update: Bechtel, Local Hiring, and Major Investments Coming to Central New York Host Matt Masur interviews Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon about major developments tied to Micron at White Pine Business Park in Clay, including preparation for foundation pours and a roughly $1B initial construction contract leading to vertical construction. McMahon highlights Bechtel as the phase-one builder for two fabs and describes local labor requirements and the project labor agreement prioritizing hiring through union halls before bringing in outside workers, alongside regional training efforts. He also notes major wastewater infrastructure investments, including an industrial project won by...

Ronald McDonald House Central New York: Supporting Families & Christmas in July Host Noah Chrysler interviews Beth Trunfio, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Central New York, about how the organization removes barriers for families with hospitalized children by providing a free home-like stay with amenities such as beds, home-cooked meals, shuttle support, and community among other families, serving those coming from across New York State and beyond for care at Syracuse hospitals like Crouse Hospital’s Level IV NICU and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Beth explains families are referred through hospital providers and social workers, and shares how arri...

Spotlighting Utica’s Small Businesses with Keith Brown (Community Lens Media & Love Living Local 315) Matt Masur of Click Stream Studios interviews Utica-area marketer and content creator Keith Brown about his work promoting positive stories and small businesses through Community Lens Media and Love Living Local 315. Brown explains how he helps mom-and-pop shops—especially local food spots without big marketing budgets—gain visibility by sharing their stories, and how he teaches a monthly “smartphone toolkit” content creation class at Mohawk Valley Community College. He describes starting during COVID by filming simple phone videos highlighting open restaurants, learning editing through “YouTube University,”...

Jeff Rogers on Aligning Leaders at Every Level and Leading Through Adversity Host Noah Chrysler interviews Jeff Rogers, founder of Catalyst Leadership Dynamics, about coaching organizations by aligning senior leaders, mid-level managers, and frontline “doers” through what he calls the “trifecta effect.” Rogers says leadership often fails due to assumptions and lack of clear communication around mission, vision, values, SOPs, and KPIs, noting many companies’ documents are missing or outdated. He explains coaching fine-tunes healthy organizations, earns trust, and helps teams embrace change, including unlearning command-and-control habits that make founders bottlenecks. Rogers discusses navigating six generations in today’s workforce by...

Rocco Leone on Salt City Wearhouse: Curated Vintage Clothing, Thrifting Tips, and Expanding in Syracuse Host Noah Chrysler interviews Rocco Leone, owner of Salt City Wearhouse in Syracuse, a shop curating handpicked vintage clothing and antiques from the 1930s–’90s (with some early 2000s), priced to be affordable and long-lasting. Rocco shares what he’s wearing, explains sourcing through thrifting, estate sales, and community sell-ins, and describes the store as a “mini museum” where items get a second life instead of going to landfills. He recounts how he got into vintage in 2020 and opened the shop about eight or nine month...

Meals on Wheels Eastern Onondaga County: Nutrition, Wellness Checks, and a Push to Expand Host Noah Chrysler interviews Jennifer Covert, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Eastern Onondaga County and vice president of the Meals on Wheels of New York State Association, about delivering nutritious meals and wellness checks to homebound residents. Serving about 230 people across 12 zip codes, the volunteer-based program helps seniors stay safely in their homes, addressing food insecurity and loneliness, with 17 clients over 100 and a 96-year-old driver who has volunteered since 1992. Covert shares advocacy work in Washington, DC after receiving a Meals on Wheels America...

Christopher Bruce Brings Mockumentary Comedy “The Conspiracists” Home to Syracuse On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Syracuse native and film producer/professional mascot Christopher Robert Bruce about his feature comedy mockumentary The Conspiracists, shot in a style like The Office and centered on siblings trying to run the first all-inclusive conspiracy theory convention as it falls apart. Bruce discusses lessons from making an independent film as a team effort, producing with partners Uncultured Swine and King Creative, filming in Delaware, and casting Broadway performer Terri Lynn, plus favorite funny character moments and scenes. He promotes upcoming screenings with...

Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Long-Term Care in Central New York with Anthony Marone | Good News York Host Noah Chrysler interviews Anthony Marone, owner and founder of the Marone Law Firm, about estate planning, elder law, and navigating aging-related issues in Central New York. Marone explains why estate planning is often avoided, why adults with kids or assets need a will to control distribution and guardianship, and contrasts streamlined outcomes with a proper plan versus the costly, uncertain “intestate” process in New York. He shares tools developed during COVID, including an eight-question online will builder (thewillbuilder.com) paired with atto...

Chef Don Agat on Building Good Eats & Sips During COVID and the Story Behind Don’s Cookie Host Noah Chrysler interviews Chef Don Agat, owner of Good Eats & Sips and Good To Go in Skaneateles, about launching Good Eats & Sips in June 2020 during COVID to provide fresher, “healthy-ish” food and a seamless online takeout experience. Don describes being denied by four banks—one scolded them for 45 minutes—before a fifth approved their loan after refining the business plan. He shares his career path from dishwasher to Johnson & Wales graduate, working in Outer Banks, Aspen, and Manhattan, experiencing layoffs during the 2008 c...

Inside Chittenango’s All Things Oz Museum & the 49th Oz-Stravaganza Festival Host Noah Chrysler interviews Mark Baum and Monica Kinner of the All Things Oz Museum (International L. Frank Baum and All Things Oz Historical Foundation) in Chittenango, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2011 that now holds 18,000+ Oz items across a museum and two annexes, spanning original Baum materials through Wicked and other modern Oz productions. They preview Oz-Stravaganza, a three-day, free-admission festival (49th annual; about 30,000 attendees) featuring vendors, fireworks, a parade, evening guest programs hosted by Oz historian John Fricke, kids’ runs, costume contest, silent auctions, and museum hours (10–5; $12 admission) with t...

Erik McElveen Previews the New York State Blues Fest and Youth Programs On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Erik McKelvin, executive director of the New York State Blues Fest, about the admission-free festival June 11–13 at Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds. McKelvin highlights the lineup, including headliner Gary Clark Jr. on Saturday, plus artists such as Eddie Nine Volt, Vanessa Collier, Grace Bowers, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, and JW-Jones, with the student band Blues Ignition opening Saturday. He explains the fest’s funding through grants, sponsors, and a $10-per-day parking fee, and...

Inside Skillshot Arcade: Syracuse Pinball, Community Events, and Balls of Steel Improv Night On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Ryan of Skillshot Arcade, a Syracuse pinball arcade and event space opened in 2021 offering $15 all-you-can-play nights (Wednesdays and Fridays) and private rentals for events. Ryan describes Skillshot’s curated, rotating lineup of about 25 pinball machines spanning 1978 to 2026 plus arcade games, highlights favorites like Flash (1979), Swords of Fury, and a Star Trek machine, and discusses pinball’s French origins, Chicago-based manufacturing, and design/repair mechanics. They promote “Syracuse Improv presents Balls of Steel” on Saturday, June 6 at 7 PM ($20, includes an hour...

Aaron’s Angels of CNY: Weekend and Summer Meals for Food-Insecure Kids Host Noah Chrysler interviews Jack Pflanz, director of fund development and communications for Aaron’s Angels of CNY, a 501(c)(3) food pantry providing meal bags to children facing food insecurity on weekends, school breaks, and during summer. Jack describes the Phoenix School District program where volunteers pack about 500 meal bags per month and teachers discreetly place them into students’ backpacks to protect anonymity. He cites that one in five kids in Oswego County and Central New York go to bed hungry and shares his own experience of hunger...

Taste of Syracuse Preview: $2 Samples, Live Music, and Art in the Park Host Matt Masur interviews Carrie Wojtaszek of Taste of Syracuse about the upcoming downtown Syracuse festival, held the first Friday and Saturday of June from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Carrie, in her 18th year with the event, explains that the free festival features food vendors, food trucks, and restaurants offering $2 samples so attendees can try many options, plus three stages of nonstop live music with over 30 bands, mostly local, and a Saturday appearance by Fuel. The event also includes beverage tents and an expanded Art in the Park...

CNY Jazz Central’s Larry Luttinger on Arts Incubation, Education, and Jazz in the City Host Noah Chrysler interviews Larry Luttinger, founder and executive director of CNY Jazz Central in Syracuse, about Jazz Central’s mobile performing-arts mission, its downtown mini-theater used as a fully equipped arts incubator (instruments, Steinway, lighting, audio/video recording) for under $200 with ticketing, marketing, and front-of-house support, and how the pandemic reduced local user groups. Luttinger outlines CNY Jazz’s education pipeline, including the Summer Jazz Workshop at Le Moyne College, in-school cultural history shows aligned to NYS standards, a paid youth orchestra partnership with t...

Retro Game Con 2026 Spring Edition: Free Play, Vendors, and Voice Acting Guests in Syracuse Noah Price visits Retro Game Con 2026 Spring Edition in Syracuse for Good News York, explaining it as a scaled-down spring version of the fall event featuring a large free-play area, vendor hall, artists, retro sellers, and celebrity guests. Organizers describe the convention’s growth since 2013 into a multi-day On Center event drawing regional and international attendees, with the spring edition selling out. Guest Alicia Glidewell discusses voicing Carmelita Fox and Constable Neyla in Sly Cooper and doing Zero Suit Samus lines in Smash, plus being th...

Good News York: GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse Expands Free Programs, Seeks $50K to Sustain Growth Host Noah Chrysler interviews Alyssa Johnston, Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse, and Ruthann Raposo of ProNexus and interim board president. They explain GiGi’s mission to provide free educational and therapeutic programs for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, including math and literacy tutoring, speech therapy, kitchen skills, and GiGiFit from ages 0 through adulthood, largely run by volunteers. They describe the Playhouse layout that fosters family connection, text groups that extend peer support, and tangible impact such as a child told h...

Retro Game Con Spring Edition Goes Two Days: Guests, Free Play, Vendors, and Charity Host Noah Chrysler interviews Nathan Grant, an event coordinator for Retro Game Con, about Retro Game Con Spring Edition on May 16–17, its first two-day run and how it differs from the larger fall event. Saturday-only tickets are sold out; Sunday tickets remain available at retrogamecon.com, along with schedules and guest pricing. Grant explains the event’s evolution from a post-pandemic partnership with the Museum of Science and Technology, a brief “Retro Game Con Jr.” phase, and growth leading to expanded programming at the Oncenter. He annou...

Esta Safety Park Dragstrip: Family Drag Racing, Track Prep, and Upcoming Events in Cicero Host Noah Chrysler interviews Gary Simons, longtime announcer and current manager of Esta Safety Park Dragstrip in Cicero, NY, a family-owned dragstrip operating since 1960 that runs quarter-mile and eighth-mile racing with a quarter-mile runoff. Simons explains what visitors can see—from street cars and motorcycles to 200+ mph dragsters—and describes weekly track resurfacing by scraping old rubber and dragging/brooming the surface for traction and safety. He outlines bracket racing basics, including dial-ins, ET strategy, reaction timing, and “racing the stripe,” emphasizing driver skill alongside car perf...

Syracuse Spring Carnival Returns: Rides, Food, and the Business of Traveling Carnivals On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Allen LaVenture of Main Event Amusements, a traveling carnival company, about the Syracuse Spring Carnival at the New York State Fairgrounds (Gray Lot) with free admission and parking via Gate 6. Allen says the event features 18 rides (kiddie, family, and thrill), about eight food trucks, and around 20 games. He discusses the carnival industry’s history and resurgence, the staying power of classic rides like the Tilt-A-Whirl (including their refurbished 1954 unit) and Scrambler, and explains how the Tilt-A-Whirl works and how mo...

Syracuse Officers Launch De-Escalation & Control Solutions to Train Civilians for High-Stakes Situations On Good News York, host Matt Masur interviews Syracuse Police Sgt. Joe Commisso and Joe Senf about their business, De-Escalation and Control Solutions (DECS), which provides civilians tailored training for high-pressure situations such as school fights, physical aggression, and civilian responses to “active killing.” Drawing on law enforcement and military backgrounds, including academy leadership and reality-based training certification in New York State, they adapt skills like physical de-escalation, awareness of cues, and decision-making under adrenaline to civilian needs, often training on-site at client locations; they also use part...