Episodes

Cidiot is about being new in and acclimating to country life. So what happens if you, say, move to south Florida for a few months and try to fit in there? In this special episode, you'll find out. Mat shares …

Andrew & Clark of Hamilton & Adams. Photo: James J. Reddington Maybe you’ve seen the t-shirt. Maybe you own one. I sure do. “Upstate & Chill” is a trademark saying from Hamilton & Adams , a cool and beloved retailer …

Cidiot is back, turning up the volume with a bigger-than-ever Season Five. Four years and 58 episodes have taught Mat a thing or two, plus the listener survey piled up the advice to make this season five-u-lous. We're startin...

I don't think we've talked this season enough about cows. So to close out the year and season four, meet Matt Baumgartner. Matt owns June Farms in upstate New York near Albany as well the Troy Beer Garden, the Berlin …

Sometimes life comes full circle. This episode, Mat interviews Lori Greenberg and Sarah Goldberg from The Container House in Tivoli, NY , coincidentally (or is it?) owned by a recruiter and business owner from Mat's past. The...

Meet Kimberlie Dykeman, a Rhinebeck native, who runs Wingman , a personal concierge and estate management business in the Hudson Valley. She and I cover what’s changed, why she started her business, advice for new homeowners,...

What’s the rush with hiking? What's the difference between a walk and a hike? This episode Mat talks to Sean O’Dwyer, who runs Mountain-Hiking.com , a popular blog for the Catskills, Hudson Highlands, Adirondacks and beyond. ...

Fall is a season of things dying to be reborn. In the thick of Fall and facing the reality of Winter, Mat makes an argument for planting seeds now that you want to bloom later. Special shoutout to the new …

The county is the “arms” of the state government, notes Rebecca Edwards, Dutchess County legislator (Town of Poughkeepsie) and Democratic minority leader. In this special episode, Edwards talks to Cidiot about why local elect...

That's not a typo. That's the other spelling of Cidiot. Join me for this three-year birthday episode as I share Cidiot's early brand foundation, the story behind the logo, and an interview with Pim Zeegers, who just opened th...

Meet Josh Santonja, who helped run Pugsly's Hudson location and has become both a barber and friend to me, my husband, father-in-law, and several friends. He's kind of a cult favorite. Josh also grew up in the Hudson Valley a...

There are seven remaining lighthouses on the Hudson River. Come with me as we learn about them, their purpose, their vocabulary, and a few stories. We're very lucky to also get some background and history directly from Sarah ...

As more and more people consider working remote, let's talk to Steve and Tom, who have created a business in Stanfordville that gives people comfortably-designed spaces and also builds unique community. Nestled in a historic ...

Cidiot just won first place for regional podcast in Chronogram magazine's annual Chronogrammies. Thanks to you. Well, those of you who voted! To celebrate, I'm also posting on my Medium blog some other great regional podcasts...

When you need to do seasonal things but you are the one who gets in the way, that's what we call a P.B.C.C. — "Problem Between City and Country." Inspired by a term I learned doing customer service in technology, …

The feeling of attending a live event. Mat, Brian, and cousin Lisa experience Patti Smith at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park and Cidiot recounts some of the many things he's grateful for, especially during Memorial Day weekend. This ...

We've talked animals, we've double-clucked into chickens. Now let's talk domesticated pets. And to help us do it, welcome new sponsor Ledgewood Kennels in Millerton, NY, where you can board and groom your pets. This episode a...

Cidiot turns the microphone on the editors and owners of IMBY.com (In My Back Yard), a network of local newspapers to hear their story and about the importance of a local press and citizen journalism in our communities. Thank...

Season 4 was promised to be a new level. In this episode, Mat investigates the popularity of chickens. He talks first to a colleague Ryan Detwiler, who raises chickens, and then to Kristin White of Chicken Librarian , a homes...

Welcome back to Season 4 of Cidiot: Learning to Live and Love Life in the Hudson Valley. Join Mat Zucker as we start off at the historic Elmendorph Inn, our town's original welcome center. We'll also stop by Sawkill Farm …

Wanted to say hi and share the news that Cidiot has been nominated for a Chronogrammy for Best Regional Podcast! You can still vote for the nomination, other categories, and get on the list for April 1 voting. Also other …

Nowhere is the contrast of light and dark more discernible than in the countryside. In the Season Three finale of Cidiot, Mat explores the idea of light at holiday time and the renewed optimism he's so grateful for. Special s...

Mat interviews Kallie, one of the owners of Sawkill Farm in Red Hook, NY, home of his favorite eggs, bacon, and pork chops. Hear about what it's like to run a farm and the secret of why things taste so …

Community is crucial wherever you live. In this episode, Mat explores the five types of community: Interest, Action, Place, Practice, and Circumstance. He also shares his dream bucket-list community event. Special shoutouts t...