On Norm's birthday episode, guest David Hoffman looks back on a life shaped by curiosity and reinvention. He recalls early radio days in high school, studying engineering at Case Western, earning a third-class FCC license in Detroit, and landing at Vassar, where he fell in love with both '60s music and the college's carrier-current station. From there, Hoffman found his way into filmmaking, including a short inspired by Kurt Vonnegut, a documentary on Vassar's history, and festival screenings, before moving to New York to work in film and animation on an Oxberry stand. Then came the 1981 IBM PC and Lotus 1-2-3, which redirected his career entirely toward consulting and writing for PC Magazine, where he met his editor and future wife, Jane. Norm and Hoffman also share a laugh over a tennis mishap that inspired Norm's birthday gift. In closing, Hoffman describes his volunteer work as treasurer and bookkeeper for the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, which provides food pantry access, legal aid, transportation, school coordination, and emergency rent assistance to those in need.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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This week's guest is coming up on her 25 year anniverary at the helm of one of my favorite restaurants, Gigi Trattoria, which she co-founded in 2001. She's a dietician/ entrepreneur an absolute delight: Laura Pensiero.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Norm sits down with Charles Derbyshire, who shares the story behind pronouncing his surname, his upbringing in Huntington, West Virginia, and reflections on the region’s hardship, opioids, and shifting economy centered on education and healthcare. He talks about Marshall University family ties, Appalachian identity, Hatfield lineage, and how his accent changed after years of acting training. The conversation ranges from Cajun martinis and Charles’s love of cooking—especially his gumbo—to high school basketball, his sons’ paths (one teaching at a refugee center in Cairo and one pursuing a PhD in astrophysics), and a beloved local tennis community. Charles also recounts his 15-year acting career, standout experimental theater work, world travel with Orbis International, television executive roles at Bravo/NBC and the BBC, and selling his Rhinebeck spirits shop after 20 years.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Norm welcomes back Monique Segarra, a Bard Center for Environmental Policy professor just returned from Oaxaca, to share a mezcal from a small-batch palenque as they dig into agave's long growth cycles, industrial production, and what sustainability actually means for Oaxacan producers. Segarra, who has spent a decade doing field-based work with graduate students in the region, discusses water management, payments for ecosystem services, and community-run conservation businesses that support local livelihoods. She describes Zapotec communal land governance and one northern mountain community's collectively owned enterprises, including sustainable logging, a sawmill, furniture factory, community bank, and social programs. The conversation connects to New York's Catskills watershed agreement, WAC's voluntary whole-farm planning, and trust-building organizations, alongside personal family stories.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Norm welcomes Dr. Amy Novatt, OB-GYN, and Marybeth Cale, a national board certified health and wellness coach, to discuss integrative approaches to midlife health, with a focus on perimenopause and menopause. They explore how coaching complements conventional medicine by addressing whole-person wellbeing across life domains, using tools like a "wellness wheel" to support self-discovery and actionable next steps. Novatt explains why clinicians are increasingly open to nutrition, acupuncture, and lifestyle medicine, and clarifies key points and cautions around hormone therapy, including how interpretations of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative have evolved.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Norm sits down with Rhinebeck's own Jaime Ransome, an educator, former adjunct professor, gallery manager, and one of the most compelling curators working in the Hudson Valley today. They talk family, feminism, and a life in the art world. Jaime explains her middle name (Ernestina), shares stories about her grandparents, and traces the through-line connecting spirituality, the moon, and feminist thinking, including what her mother taught her about consent and sex ed. She talks about her parents, author Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome, and makes the case for fiction as a vehicle for deeper truth. Jaime defines Afrofuturism, recommends Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, and reflects on curating an Afrofuturism show in Newburgh. She discusses her exhibition "Weird Sisters" at Dutchess Community College's Mildred Washington Gallery, and points listeners to "Crazy" at Bow Gallery in Beacon.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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This Valentine's Day, Norm welcomed the cutest couple in Rhinebeck to "Correct Me If I'm Norm": Ally and John Traver, who've been part of each other's lives since kindergarten. They dated in middle and high school, lost touch for years, then found each other again on Facebook in college. Married now for 16 years, they have two sons, Charlie (6) and Dave (2.5).
They chat about growing up in Rhinebeck, their studies (Ally in history with a passion for archiving; John in economics and English), and their careers — including Ally's work in logistics and truck brokerage and John's long tenure at Samuel's Sweet Shop, where he's worked since age 15. John talks about what makes Samuel's special: its intimate footprint, nostalgic and international candy selection, the famous foil-wrapped Samuel's bars with golden ticket prizes, and the shop's deep commitment to community and ambiance. John also shares memories of Ira, the shop's founder.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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In this episode of 'Correct Me If I'm Norm,' host Norm sits down with author Emma Tourtelot to discuss her latest book, 'No One, You Know.' They delve into Emma's book tour experiences, the inspiration behind her mother-daughter narrative, her creative process, and the role of grief and consciousness explored in her novel. Emma also shares stories from her past as a sex and relationship columnist and her current role as a middle school librarian. Tune in for an engaging conversation full of insights into writing, family dynamics, and personal anecdotes.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

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