Episodes

Ah, there is nothing quite like being out on the water—especially on our beloved Hudson River! 🌊 In this episode of Cidiot ®, we are diving headfirst into the boating lifestyle. I’m joined by Josh Rosella of Freedom Boat Club to talk about how they are making waves right here in the region. As the world’s largest boat club, they are opening up the water to everyone with three fantastic Hudson Valley locations spanning both sides of the river— Ossining, Haverstraw, and Piermont —plus a spot at Li...

New York City has the energy, but Columbia County has the air. Two years moving here from just 20 minutes south in the Hudson Valley, host Mat Zucker still feels like a bit of a "cidiot" sometimes—always eager to explore more of the incredible 635 square miles of valley, hills, farms, and villages right in his backyard. In this special episode, produced in collaboration with Columbia County Tourism , Mat serves up a very personal seasonal guide. Whether you're a foodie chasing the ultimate farm-...

Just in time for Frederic Church’s 200th birthday, we’re taking you along for a "boots on" tour of the moving landscape he spent decades designing here in the Hudson Valley. I’m walking the carriage roads of the Olana Historic Site with Annik LaFarge, author of the new book Composing Olana: A Journey on Foot Through Frederic Church's Greatest Work of Art . It’s the first book about this thoughtful and artful landscape. You’ll hear the wind in the trees and the crunch of the gravel as we discover...

Let's go bean-to-bar. In this episode of Cidiot ,® Mat Zucker dives into the world of world-class indulgence right here in the Hudson Valley. Joining the show is Bryan Graham, the award-winning chocolatier and co-founder of Fruition Chocolate Works . From his roots in the Catskills to the kitchens of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Bryan shares his journey of building a bean-to-bar empire. We talk about the "American craft chocolate movement," why milk chocolate is making a massive come...

In this episode of Cidiot® , we explore the literal "connective tissue" of our region: the bridges. Host Mat Zucker is joined by Chris Steber, Public Information Officer for the New York State Bridge Authority, to discuss the five major vehicular crossings—from the "grand-daddy" Bear Mountain Bridge to the Rip Van Winkle. We dive into the fascinating history of these landmarks, including why F ranklin D. Roosevelt vetoed the first attempt at a northern bridge, the "engineering epic" of the Mid-H...

After a brutal winter, spring in the Hudson Valley isn't just a temperature change—it’s a shift in soul. In this episode, Cidiot® explores the "palpable optimism" of the season, from the practical (and messy) realities of country living to the psychological power of starting fresh. Mat shares his 7-step guide to mastering spring upstate—covering everything from the melody of melting creeks and the return of outdoor farmers' markets to the essential "joiner" culture of CSAs. We also hear a moving...

Who do you trust for the "real" news? In a landscape of paywalls and strictly managed county reporting, Mat sits down with Jeff Yeh, the man behind the largest social media news source in Columbia County. From tracking DUI arrests to questioning local political transparency, Jeff’s unconventional approach has earned him millions of views—and a fair share of controversy. In this episode of Cidiot ®, Mat and Jeff discuss the "wild west" feel of Columbia County, the delicate balance of being a "loc...

This episode is hilarious—and delicious. Host Mat Zucker dives into the magical world of local farming and the global Slow Food movement with Pierre Fredrichs, co-chair of Slow Food Hudson Valley and owner of Overlook Farms in East Chatham. Recorded at the Creative Legion in Hudson, we discuss: The Movement: How a McDonald’s in Rome sparked a global mission for "good, clean, fair food for all." Life on the Farm: Pierre’s journey from private chef to tending 120 acres of pigs (including a 500-lb ...

“One is fooling the mind. The other is fooling the eyes.” —Thomas Baker on the difference between a magician and an illusionist Season 9 is out! With Cidiot ®, I’ve been trying for more than 125 episodes to open your eyes to new things. This season will be all about wonder. We need to look into the wonder to see what’s possible. So this season starts with magic. Thomas Baker is an illusionist based in Saugerties, New York, known for creating moments that defy explanation. He has sold out the Bri...

Winter in the Hudson Valley is not a metaphor. It’s a physical, emotional, and occasionally muddy reality—one that arrives early, lingers late, and demands respect (and better boots). In the Season 8 finale of Cidiot , Mat wraps up a year-long exploration of the “Creative Human” with a practical—and lightly self-deprecating—survival guide for making it through a Hudson Valley winter with your sanity intact. From generators and wood-burning stoves to libraries as lifelines and the quiet heroics o...

What does it look like to build a creative life without a ladder, a map, or a five-year plan? In this crossover episode, I sit down with Kingston-based cinematographer, podcaster, and all-around creative human Drew English , host of the podcast No Set Path . We interviewed each other for our respective shows, and this is the Cidiot cut—rooted in the Hudson Valley, flavored with dirt, neighbors, and the reality of figuring it out as you go. Drew shares his journey from years in the NYC film world...

Live from Hudson, NY, it’s an author Q&A with Brian Shaefer and his debut novel Town & Country . Recorded in front of a live audience at Spark of Hudson, Mat moderates a conversation about character, plot, and the worlds of weekender and local coming together. The story follows a congressional race set in a fictional town of Griffin, inspired by the Hudson Valley. “Duffles” is Brian’s word for cidiots. One lesson which I really appreciated is the importance for all of us in a community, as Bria...

Meet Patrick, owner of Lily’s Natural Pet Store , which just opened its second location after Poughkeepsie in Hudson. We talk dogs—a favorite subject—and why he chose Hudson, why not on Warren Street for his second location, why it’s not your average pet store, about running a pet business (I was thinking of doing one!), and tackle my burning questions such as the smell of bully sticks and what’s so great about raw. And like on many other Cidiot ® episodes, we end with favorite places in the Hud...

Meet Amy and Joyce, owners of The Yoga House , now with three locations in the Hudson Valley — Kingston, Highland and Poughkeepsie. One grew up in the HV; one is a transplant from Queens—what a great fit for coming on Cidiot. We talk about yoga, the different types, and poke a bit of fun (well, I do, and they’re good sports about it). They share how they got into yoga, which you won’t believe has quite a bit to do with roller derby. They also share some travel advice for cidiot bodies in the ca...

James Lauren is a board certified nurse practitioner who recently opened up a primary care clinic in Hudson. James is also a new homeowner and bravely let me try in-person recording at his adorable farmhouse with my miniature new recording system. We talk about primary care—what it is and why it matters, plus who their clinic serves. Short answer: everybody. We also chat about being a new homeowner, bartering labor, talking to people, being nice, painting a subfloor (which is a thing) and what ...

Let’s talk about money and about Beacon. This episode, Mat chats with Lena Rizkallah of Conte Wealth Advisors, who is a Chelsea-turned-Beaconite financial advisor. Through Lena, we’ll get to know Beacon better, including lots of great places to eat. We’ll also hear Lena’s story and all she does as a part of the community and building financial literacy in the rest of us. She hosts panels and speakeasies about money, and even does stand up storytelling. Lena was named 2023 Chronogrammies Best Fin...

“Libraries are rooms of requirement.” — Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System This week on Cidiot® , we’re talking libraries — not just the quiet, book-filled havens you remember, but vibrant community hubs evolving with the times. I’m joined by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, executive director of the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS), which spans 66 libraries across 70 locations in five Hudson Valley counties. We cover everything from the history and future of libraries ...

“This area attracts talented creative people seeking opportunities to play out, all seeking opportunities to play with each other.” — MK Scully Join MK Scully, afternoon host and promotions director at WKZE in Red Hook, as Cidiot ® digs deeper into the local music scene. Who are the local bands? Where would you go to see them? We talk about both as well as about songs about the area. Genre wise, it’s everything. Singer-songwriter-folk to rock and roll to metal to funk bands to (great) cover band...

In Episode 117 of Cidiot® , host Mat Zucker sits down with Christy Counts, the president and founder of Neverstill Wines, a New York State-based winery with a tasting room right in Hudson, NY. Christy shares her journey from wine enthusiast to entrepreneur, detailing how she built Neverstill Wines with a focus on sustainability, community, and a deep love for the Hudson Valley. Christy discusses her philosophy behind the Neverstill label, including her commitment to minimal intervention winemaki...

This episode was inspired by a spontaneous poetry commission on the street in Hudson, NY. A poet named Jacqueline crafts “Cidiot, Come Hither,” and Mat takes stock of escaping bubbles and breaking routines. Thanks so much for listening. Please rate and review Cidiot ® and sign up for the show’s newsletter at Cidiot.com . Links to places and resources mentioned in the episode: Moto Coffee, Hudson, NY ( https://www.motocoffeemachine.com/ ) Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY ( https://walkwa...

Meet Madeline Hung of Castle , a finance app that helps homeowners save time and money managing their homes. Madeline says she’s a San Francisco cidiot trying to recreate her Bay Area lifestyle here in the Hudson Volley. She and her husband Hugo have created a service that does two things: One is to understand the money you’re saving, and the second part is to help you optimize and save. Their average customer, as you’ll hear, is saving $10,000.00. That’s real money. “It seems like it all shoul...

Ready for something different? On this episode of Cidiot ®, you’ll hear from John Burton, host of the popular podcast “Home From Here.” Hear John’s history from Rhinebeck to New York City to Westchester—and his plans to get back up here to the HV. As John explains, he wants to get back to his people. The people of the Hudson Valley are “Sophisticated and simple at the same time, smart and funny at the same time.” John puts it all out there. We talk about his wife’s incredible cancer journey, his...

What can we learn from the nature—and animals—around us? Meet Jessica Morgenthal, host of the new, already award-winning “ Resilience Gone Wild ” podcast. Mat’s been a guest, and now Jessica is one on Cidiot ®. Join us for talk of talk about donkeys, goats, chickens, sea turtles, beehives, and more. Nature can be loving, nature can be harsh. The answers we’re looking for are sometimes right in front of us. And at the end, bonus: you’ll hear the real difference between turtles and tortoises. Link...

“We're trying to create the best version of a night out” — Mike Burdge of Story Screen Cinema The arts are huge in the Hudson Valley, including film and cinema. In this episode, Mat talks to Mike Burdge of Story Screen Cinema about independent film and theatres in the Hudson Valley. Hear Mike and his partner Diana DiMuro’s story, from working in hospitality and hosting after-hours movie pop-ups to owning their own unique cinemas—first in Beacon now in Hudson. Mike also shares how they decide wha...