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 of simply showing up, this episode distills what we’ve learned this season into three essential rules for wintering well: physical readiness, creative resilience, and social warmth.

This is not about mastering winter. It’s about practicing life here—embracing the hearth, the community, and the small rituals that make the cold months not just survivable, but meaningful.

You’re a cidiot. You’re doing it. And you’re home. Come visit.

Places Mentioned

• Neverstill Wines — Hudson, NY
• The Maker Hotel — Hudson, NY
• Mid-Hudson Library System
• Starr Library — Rhinebeck, NY
• Rough Draft Bar & Books — Kingston, NY
• Books & Cake — Hillsdale, NY
• The Spotty Dog Books & Ale — Hudson, NY
• The Yoga House — Kingston, Highland, Poughkeepsie, NY

Excerpts from “Hudson Valley Reveries” by Will Forge and “Hudson Valley Winter” by Jennifer Rodriques.

Thanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com , and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store.

This episode’s guest editor is Drew English of Upstate Podcast Studio

©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

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 to building a life (and a studio) in Uptown Kingston—one that balances creativity, parenthood, community, and work that doesn’t always follow a straight line.

We talk about why Kingston has become such a magnet for creative people, the myth of the “COVID panic buyer,” how podcasting grew out of basement space and curiosity, and why no set path is actually the point—whether you’re navigating a career, a town, or a brand-new way of living.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can leave the city without leaving yourself behind, this one’s for you.

Podcasts, radio stations, and other good things mentioned:

• Upstate Podcast Studio (Kingston, NY)
• No Set Path podcast
• The Valley Girls Podcast
• Kaatscast podcast
• Hudson Valley Unleashed podcast
• Rhinebeck Scoop podcast
• Radio Free Rhinecliff
• Cinema Kingston
• ⁠WKZE⁠ radio station, Red Hook, NY
• Arrowood Farms, Accord, NY

Special: There's a video version of the episode available on Cidiot’s YouTube channel. Thanks, Drew!

Thanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit.

This episode’s guest editor is Drew English of Upstate Podcast Studio

©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

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 Hudson Valley… to take dogs.

Lily’s Natural Pet Store — 76 N 7th Street, Hudson, NY 12534

• “Soft opening” in November (check hours).
• Grand opening Friday, December 5, 2025.
• Tell ‘em Cidiot sent ya!

Other places and businesses mentioned:

• Red Wing Park, East Fishkill
• Pause Dog Boutique, Rhinebeck

Guest editor: Drew English of Upstate Podcast Studio

Thanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit.

©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

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 car or on the train coming upstate. They helped even helped me turn it into a blog post you’ll find on Cidiot.com with photos as well.

Special Offer for Cidiot® Listeners:

Mention "Cidiot" and get a FREE CLASS and receive access to a special 15% off discount on regularly priced class passes and memberships. Notes: Limited time, one per person, first time customers only. Thanks, Joyce and Amy.

Learn more at The Yoga House: https://www.theyogahouseny.com/

Timestamps to segments:

• 01:25 Mat's history with yoga
• 02:50 Their connections to the Hudson Valley
• 06:32 How and why they started The Yoga House
• 07:40 Types of yoga, including for people like Mat
• 13:37 Guide to yoga for cidiot travelers on train and car (see blog post)
• 17:20 More on practice types and defining them
• 22:02 Cidiot geography game, this time with stereotypes for how they practice yoga (hilarious)
• 29:40 Favorite place in the Hudson Valley

Quotes from the episode:

“Yoga House is founded on a basic principle that yoga should be accessible, enjoyable and affordable for every body”— Amy

“We teach more to energies — are you looking to chill out, do you want something more energetic?” — Joyce

Thanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show at the site or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit.

©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

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 a carpet knife is. Yes, I am still learning new things.

Ice cream comes up and we trade notes about our favorite spots across the Valley, plus an upcoming visit to a corn maize. Tune in for a great, timely conversation, and if you are looking for a medical provider, check out James practice called Westside Family Medicine in Hudson, NY.

Links to places mentioned in this episode:

• James Lauren’s web site with appt scheduling
• Westside Family Medicine, Greenport/Hudson
• Tommy B’s Pizza, Craryville

• Random Harvest market, Craryville
• Zinnia’s Dinette, Craryville https://www.zinniasdinette.com/
• Sideshow Vintage, Craryville
• Samascott’s Orchards, Kinderhook https://www.samascottorchards.com/
• Stewart’s (multiple locations)
• Fortune’s ice cream, Tivoli
• Holy Cow, Red Hook
• Del’s Dairy Farm, Rhinebeck and Hudson
• Story Screen Cinema, Hudson
• Plaza Diner Hudson, Greenport
• Grandma’s Hands Bakery

Thanks for listening to Cidiot, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show at the site or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit.

©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

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 Financial Planner of The Hudson Valley, and she was on a great episode of another regional podcast, “Beaconites.” Tune in, and you’ll know why.

Links to places, stores and restaurants mentioned:

• Lena Rizkallah (website)
• Beaconites! Podcast

• Poor George, Cold Spring (store)
• Madam Brett Park, Beacon
• Long Dock Park, Beacon
• Lyonshare Public House, Beacon (bistro)
• Beacon Bread Company (breakfast)
• Moreish, Beacon (English-style breakfast)
• Oda Wine Garden, Margaretville
• Brushland Eating House, Bovina

Events:

• Lena has an upcoming Women in Business panel at Hudson Yards in NYC Tuesday September 30, 2025. Please email her at LRizkallah@contewealth.com.
• Money Speakeasy happens the 2nd Tuesday of every month in Cold Spring. Email her LRizkallah@contewealth.com to be added to the mailing list.

Thank you for listening to Cidiot® , the award-winning podcast about living the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the Cidiot listener newsletter and review/rate the shot at Cidiot.com.

©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

“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 to banned books, digital access, and how libraries are stepping up as civic centers. Plus, we dive into one of the coolest things happening right now: the Mid-Hudson Library Road Trip. It’s a self-paced adventure through October where you can visit as many libraries as you like — no library card required. Just pick up a map, hit the road, and explore some of the region’s most charming buildings. Perfect for a sunny Saturday or a rainy day wander.

And if you love libraries like I do, we talk about how you can support — whether that’s downloading Libby to read more or signing up to be a library advocate through the New York Library Association.

Links mentioned in the episode:

LOCAL BOOKS & AUTHORS

• Perfectly Broken*, Robert Burke Warren
• History of the Hudson River Valley, Vernon Benjamin
• The Forest Euphoria*, Patricia Kasian

( *Available in the Cidiot bookstore on Bookshop.org)

PLACES

• Innisfree Garden (Millbrook)
• Find your local library⁠

ACTIVITIES

• MHLS Road Trip (web); @midhudsonlibsys (Insta)
• Tag your photos with #MHLibraryRoadTrip

• Sign up to be a Library Advocate
• Unite Against Book Bans

Photos: Courtesy of the Mid-Hudson Library System