Latest Updates - Page 2 of 3 - The John Krol Show

August 1, 2022

Billy Madewell on 300+ games broadcast and more

The road to 300+ games broadcast has been a long and winding one for Billy Madewell. Even before he started his tenure on the way to becoming the longest-serving play-by-play broadcaster in Wahconah Park history, it would have been hard to predict his path through the bowels of Taconic High School to the mound at Wahconah Park celebrating his milestone. After all, it all began with a nagging ankle injury – and ultimately a tumor in his foot – that kept him off the field and stumbling into what would become his new passion. It all started with encouragement from his friend Shane Reed, then some voice tracking, then a marathon live show at the old WTBR, to his promotion to student program director. He was floored when he had the chance to step into the booth for the former Pittsfield Colonials, and even more shocked when he got the call to do solo play-by-play for the then-new Pittsfield Suns in 2012. Over the past decade, Billy has established himself as a respected fixture for the organization and its fans, and also an enthusiastic mentor of young up-and-coming broadcasters learning the ropes. His commitment hasn’t come without personal challenges, as he courageously shares in our conversation. Billy is a nurturing husband and father. Also in this episode, we cover: a thoughtful microanalytical critique of Joe Buck, Larry Kratka’s pristine mustache, the difference between calling games on television and radio, the future of Wahconah Park, Phil Rizzuto’s play-by-play in “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights,” and putting the ego aside and “letting the moment come to you.” I hope you will enjoy my conversation with Billy Madewell. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

August 1, 2022

Cassandra Sohn’s Fine Art on the Podcast

Even in her earliest days as a photographer and an artist growing up in Santa Fe, Cassandra Sohn knew that she would open a fine art gallery. Just as she had a passion for her own evolving work as a photographer, shifting from editorial and commercial to fine art, she was incredibly inspired by the work of others. Sohn Fine Art is no stuffy gallery. It’s a living, breathing space where artwork comes alive and artists are supported through workshops and more. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including Cassandra’s own artistry, including her two publications of photography, her move to the Berkshires some years ago, NFTs and how they are impacting the art world, Cassandra’s philosophy background and schooling at St. John’s College, the fine art of selling fine art, the community of Lenox, Mass. and the local creative economy, curating at Chesterwood with outdoor mixed media work, how water has inspired her artwork, being a Mother and how her daughter is picking up some of her Mom’s skills as an artist and businessperson, and the Black Crowes at Tanglewood. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Cassandra Sohn. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

August 1, 2022

Photographer Eric Korenman dishes on the Podcast

It’s not the case of a doctor becoming a photographer. Instead, it’s a lifelong photographer who became a physician and then returned to his roots. After putting the camera down to dedicate his entire time and focus on becoming a radiologist and building his practice, Eric Korenman rediscovered his passion of photography when his first child was born in 2000. This time, no one could take the camera out of his hands. Eric’s passion for documenting, capturing the moment and sharing sheer authenticity has led to incredible new experiences, shoots with household names in comedy and show business, as well as lifelong friendships. His goal is for his subjects to “forget the camera is there” and he quips that his shoots are like a therapy session. The results speak for the themselves. Shooting some of the best comedians in the business in New York City began years ago because of Eric’s pure audacity to simply reach out and ask them. Being the doctor photographer has never been part of his brand (many know him much better as a photographer than a physician), it sure did help, as he mended one famous comedian’s infected toe. That’s just one anecdote that Eric shares in our conversation. We also discuss how his passion for photography helped in his decision to choose radiology, which he calls the photography side of medicine, his evolution of work from landscapes to portraits as well as fine art, his friendship with the late Gilbert Gottfried and his family, the transition from film to digital over the years, his love of podcasts and old-time radio shows, NPR, WAMC and the spoken word, raising his children in the Berkshires and much more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Eric Korenman. Check out Eric’s work on his website: www.korenman.com

Melissa Brinton on The John Krol Podcast

August 1, 2022

Melissa Brinton, singer/songwriter

On The John Krol Podcast: The unmistakeable sound of Melissa Brinton is prolifically filling a good share of the Berkshire music scene, as she performs solo and in two additional groups. She’s perhaps the busiest musician in the region. Ironically, it may have been during the lockdown that Melissa elevated to a new level as the pandemic encouraged innovation and greater creativity. Unable to play and perform in any public venue, Melissa took to social media taking requests. She responded to the requests for tunes that she likely never would have considered learning before, and put a beautiful spin on many of our favorites. That inspiration has led to an evolution of her own sound as she works on music for her third album. In this episode, Melissa performs new music that will be on her new album as well as a few covers that you’re sure to love. We also cover Melissa’s vocal education at Pittsfield High School under the legendary Gaylan Palmer, techniques for improving vocal performance, her Irish music repertoire, playing with Fanny Pack with Elaine Morel and Paul Armstrong, as well as Flight with Mary Verdi and Eileen Markland, recording with her Father and her musical brother, Christopher, folky versions of Frank Sinatra songs, inspiration from the Spotify algorithm and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation and the music of Melissa Brinton.

July 28, 2022

Jim Campagna, radio veteran, enthusiast of life

The man, the myth, the legend. Jim Campagna is one of my (perhaps unsung) heroes who made it possible for the long-running Good Morning Pittsfield radio show on WTBR to continue through long stretches during election cycles. However, some may not know that broadcasting is Jim’s professional background and he DJ’ed at various stations, including WNAW/WMNB in North Adams when I met him. Somehow we managed quite successfully with a station (WTBR) that was essentially a hotbox in the summer months, regularly hitting 90 degrees, no wireless, and equipment that seemed to be hanging by a string. But it was fun, and we helped save the station that is today situated in more comfortable (perhaps air-conditioned) confines. Jim was a big part of that. Today, JIm and his wife, Kim, are regular cow bell ringing loyalists at Pittsfield Suns games, and you may find them crushing it in Karaoke at venues in the Berkshires. Afterall, that’s where Jim took Kim on their first date, impressing her with his Jim Morrison-like vocals. We also cover the present and future of Wahconah Park, a trade for a Ken Griffey rookie card, the Berkshire Black Bears, Kevin Costner baseball movies, Val Kilmer, attributes of a television anchor, the art of a decent interview, his wedding in the Crane Room at the Berkshire Museum and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Jim Campagna. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

July 28, 2022

Podcast: Charles Harrigan, personal trainer

The “absolute favorite thing in the world” for Charles Harrigan to do is make people stronger, as he tells us on The John Krol Podcast. And at 5 a.m. every weekday morning, he shows his commitment by holding boot campers accountable to doing just that – making them stronger. And he has many loyal athletes who have been doing it for years with him finding their fittest selves. It all started for Charles after a back injury made it impossible for him to go back to his career in construction, and instead, he went back to school to become a certified Personal Fitness Trainer in 2009. Or, maybe his tenacity was forged even earlier when he spent some years of his childhood in third world living conditions in the British Virgin Islands, saying he has “good memories of being broke.” Charles is a father, a motivator and a positive force in our community. In this episode, we cover his approach to personal training, the benefits and drawbacks of particular sports and activities, his Instagram handle “acidjester,” playing Xbox, how he never ended up with a.desk job, his love of Pittsfield and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Charles Harrigan. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

July 17, 2022

#43 – Danielle Munn, owner, Witch Slapped

Ep43 of The John Krol Podcast: The exchange of positive energy. That’s the vision Danielle Munn has for her retail space, which has already become a bit of a downtown hub. Witch Slapped is intended with the desire to create “nothing but healing.” With a dedicated “healing room” and a workshop space, independent practitioners are being encouraged to reach out to Danielle to offer their services in her space. Sure, you can purchase crystals, moonstone necklaces and dreamcatchers (among other items at the store), but Danielle sees her store as a gathering space for conversations, ideas and building community. We also cover Danielle’s remarkable journey following the sudden death of her spouse, living in a mobile home at the top of a mountain in New Hampshire, outsmarting the women’s leggings market to get back on her feet financially, and finding a loyal partner (Gary, who happened to be from Pittsfield) and starting a wonderful new household in the Berkshires. It didn’t happen by accident. We cover Danielle’s work to manifest her vision through “goal digging” and consistent visualization, and the tenacity to shift from survival mode to thriving. Oh, by the way, Danielle and Gary have eight kids living with them, and each of them contribute to Witch Slapped in their own way. This a wonderful story of love, perseverance and love. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversations with Danielle Munn, owner of Witch Slapped. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

July 14, 2022

Tariq Pinkston on The John Krol Podcast

Ep42 of The John Krol Podcast: The innovative splice of intuition and fitness fundamentals is how Tariq Pinkston is carving his path to raising the vibration in the world around him. Growing up as an empath, or “feeler,” as he was known in his family, was not always easy. However, Earthly angels, like his Mother, helped Tariq along the way and he’s found his place in a focus on the mind, body and soul – calling himself a Wholistic Fitness Trainer (yes, the added ‘W’ is purposeful). We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including: the power of gratitude, frequency, vibration and energy, subconscious self-affirmations, chakras, meditation (this episode even includes an abbreviated guided meditation), being heart-centered, parenthood, overcoming childhood trauma, the destructive nature of holding grudges, and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Tariq Pinkston! — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

July 3, 2022

#41 – Mike Daly, It’s Pittsfield Tonight, world class drummer, musician, community advocate

When Mike Daly puts his attention and focus on something, he’s all in…as in 15 hours a day for 10 years straight, all in, as he did playing drums on his path to record for top bands and labels. Mike’s journey to It’s Pittsfield Tonight was a remarkable and winding road, from the foster system, to times living without a home in Pittsfield and in Florida, to the tumultuous world of being a heavy and death metal drummer. Saying he felt like he was in “survival mode” from the age of 11, Mike found himself in his craft. We explore his work ethic and his rise and setbacks in the music industry, his surprising transition to success in sales, marriage and divorce, and coming back to Pittsfield. We also discuss his complicated relationship with his late father. The two reconciled two decades ago and were very close until his father passed recently. It’s Pittsfield Tonight started out as a variety show and evolved as Mike found that advocating on key issues resonated with many people in the community.

I truly enjoyed my conversation with Mike, and I hope you will, too.

July 2, 2022

#36 – Ty Allan Jackson, author, motivational speaker, financial literacy advocate, powerhouse

Inspiration personified. Ty Allan Jackson’s relentless optimism and grit was molded into his soul growing up in the Bronx, during an electric era of scary excitement. “I wouldn’t trade my childhood for anything in the world,” Ty says about his youth in the Bronx, when hip-hop was conceived, the Yankees were rock stars, and he followed his loving mother’s footsteps (and bookshelf) as a “ferocious reader.” It would be decades later when he found his true calling when he discovered that there was no published book to adequately support his son’s entrepreneurial spirit. This, following an auspicious opening of his lemonade stand at the corner of Dexter and Elm Street.

Just as the Bronx forged his core, he credits the Berkshires and Pittsfield for facilitating his success as an author, calling it a “magical” place. “What you do here makes a difference.”

We cover a lot of territory in this conversation, including: Ty’s professional career before becoming an author, working in sales, the early days of hip-hop culture in the Bronx, the world champion Bronx Bombers (Ty can still name the starting lineup of the ’77 squad), his early reading, beginning with Native Son by Richard Wright, getting rejected by every single publishing company and then self-publishing, the remarkable lack of financial literacy in U.S. public schools (and how is this possible?), Read or Else, Noelle Santos and The Lit. Bar, organic reach with Instagram Reels, effectively utilizing social media to convert volume to sales, creating the mindset needed to consistently create content, receiving a doctorate from Mass. College of Liberal Arts, taking the leap from a stable corporate job to an independent author, and much more.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ty Allan Jackson.