PSC-CUNY Members Say “The Time Is Now” for a Fair Contract

November 15, 2023

The Professional Staff Congress, or PSC-CUNY, is the union that represents more than 30,000 CUNY faculty and staff members, who have been working without a contract since February. Now, PSC-CUNY is gearing up for a day of action at Governor Hochul’s office in December. We joined union members at Hostos Community College who delivered their petition to their college president to demand a new contract. Reporting by Kimberly Izar.

Leyla Baretto Hula Hoops Herself Back To Health

November 15, 2023

Barretto, a former flamenco dancer, was wheelchair bound after she was diagnosed with Graves disease in 2019. However, she didn’t see this as a barrier to living her life, and created her own kind of physical therapy: she used hula hooping to get her back on her feet. Baretto now teaches hula hooping through an organization she started called “Hoop to Health.” AudioFiles reporter Amanda Kari McHugh went to Barretto’s studio to see how it’s done.

Celebrations and Negotiations (S12-E4) 11/15/2023 – Full Episode

November 15, 2023

In this episode of AudioFiles season 12, We head to Midtown, Manhattan where thousands of Service Employees International Union members rally ahead of the first day of contract negotiations. We also meet Indian Americans celebrating Diwali, and learn more about what it means to have the holiday recognized by the city government.

Later in the show, Reporter Kimberly Izar heads to Hostos Community College where PSC-CUNY union members at three Bronx campuses delivered petitions to their college presidents to demand a new contract. Then, our host Christian Nazario sits down with Robert Fanuzzi, the president of the Bronx Council For Environmental Quality, to talk about how the Mayor’s new program to extend the city’s greenway corridors is beneficial to New Yorkers.

Managing Producer: Ashley Reed
Host: Christian Nazario
Show Producer: Nicolas Magrino
Associate Producer: Amanda Kari McHugh
Reporters: Rachel Goldman, Kimberly Izar, Amanda Kari McHugh, Aaliyah Fisher, Safiyah Riddle, Sajina Shrestha, Cullen Fagan and Jiana Smith

Editors: Maggie Freleng and Richard Yeh
Sound Engineers: Amber Watson and Chad Bernhard.
Guests: Marcella Moslow, Robert Fanuzzi, and Justin Pines.
Music credits: Jason Shaw, Benjamin Tissot, Justin Pines, Celdro & Emil Wennerholm, Monplaisir, Beat Mekanik, and Aldous Ichnite

New Yorkers Make Their Voices Heard (S12-E3) 11/1/2023 – Full Episode

November 1, 2023

On this episode of AudioFiles season 12, we hear from New Yorkers affected by the Israel and Palestine conflict and hear from union actors who are still protesting for better contracts and livable wages. Then we head to the Bronx, where we visit the last ever Bronx night market, and hear from a local artist making therapeutic art accessible for her community. We also learn about the growing popularity of the ancient board game Weiqi or Go. Later in the show, Host Aaliyah Fisher sits down with Reporter Elias Guerra about what government officials are doing to prevent severe flooding and the effects of major storms as we approach the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.

Managing Producer: Ashley Reed
Producer: Christian Nazario
Host: Aaliyah Fisher
Assistant Producer: Nicolas Magrino

Reporters: Rachel Goldman, Kimberly Izar, Amanda Kari McHugh, Alex Krales, Safiyah Riddle, Sajina Shrestha

Editors: Maggie Freleng and Richard Yeh

Sound Engineers: Amber Watson and Chad Bernhard.

Guests: Graham Rayman, Elias Guerra, Samuel Turvey And Cezar Nicolescu.

Music credits: Jason Shaw on audionautix.com, Benjamin Tissot on Bensound.com, Infraction, and Komiku on Freemusicarchive.com

 
 

 

Clear the Runway: Comic Con’s Best Dressed Ascend

October 18, 2023

Despite ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes, Barbies, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Marvel superheroes ascended onto Javits Center for this year’s New York Comic Con. The event is where thousands of people geek out on all things comics and pop culture, and prepare a runway for devoted cosplayers. Reporter Kimberly Izar stopped by the convention and kept her eyes peeled for the most fashionable designs.

Keeping Up With Kleztronica

October 18, 2023

Jewish artist and DJ Chaia Berman Peters is preparing for her next installment of Kleztronica. It’s an event she created combining traditional Jewish music with rave culture. AudioFiles reporter Rachel Goldman spoke to Berman Peters and other performers about the traditional Jewish music they are breathing new life into.

Music: Chaia Berman Peters –  Hofn Stantsye: Taitch  , Chaia Berman Peters Utzu Eitza 

Momos As a Form of Resistance

October 18, 2023

Momo Crawl is a yearly food festival in Jackson Heights, Queens that supports local businesses. Reporter Sajina Shrestha visited the festival to find out how its organizers also use momos to resist and advocate for the Free Tibet Movement.

Music by Jason Shaw

Momos, Music, and More- Full Episode

october 18, 2023

On this episode of AudioFiles season 12, we bring you stories about Tibetan organizers using momos to shed light on an independence movement and a local DJ breathing new life into traditional jewish music. Then, we talk to health reporter Sarah Luft to learn about Long Covid and its impact on New Yorkers. Later in the show, host Amanda Kari McHugh sits down with journalist and audio producer Austin Cope to talk about new regulations enforced by New York City’s Department of Sanitation to tackle the ongoing trash problem.

Managing Producer: Ashley Reed
Producer: Aaliyah Fisher
Host: Amanda Kari McHugh
Assistant Producer: Christian Nazario
Reporters: Sajina Shrestha, Rachel Goldman, Kimberly Izar, Alex Krales, and Safiyah Riddle
Guests: Austin Cope, Sarah Luft, Dr. Kevin Nadal and Samantha Maldonado.
Editors: Maggie Freleng and Richard Yeh
Sound Engineers: Chad Bernhard and Amber Watson

Music Credits: Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com, Benjamin Tissot on Bensound.com, Chaia Berman Peters, Eleanore Weill, Monplaisir on freemusicarchive.com