Why are people walking and biking along the narrow shoulders of Routes 7, 23 and 41, and what would it take to give them a safe place to go? In this episode, we sit down with James Barnard, a Beijing-based history teacher (and the host’s son) with a passion for active transportation infrastructure: the paths and lanes that let us get around under our own power.

James draws on lessons from the Netherlands and Sweden, where systematic road-safety design has cut traffic deaths by about two-thirds, and makes the case that the Berkshires could benefit from the same thinking. He explains why bike paths cost a fraction of what roads do and last for decades, how the Massachusetts DOT has already mapped a Priority Trails Network, and why South County lags behind the progress on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail up north.

The conversation also covers bike tourism as an economic engine, kids’ independence and mental health, the surprising shared history of the bicycle and the car, and the difference between e-bikes and e-motorcycles. Above all, James argues that a Berkshire Bike Path from Ashley Falls to Williamstown is within reach, for about 1% of what the state spends on roads, if residents build the political will to demand it.

This episode examines how mainstream American media didn’t just fail to cover the destruction of Gaza accurately, but actively participated in obscuring it. Drawing on two works released a decade apart, the 2016 documentary The Occupation of the American Mind and Adam H. Johnson’s 2026 book How to Sell a Genocide, the discussion traces how a public relations infrastructure built since the 1980s shaped Western coverage of Israel and Palestine. The conversation looks at specific journalistic patterns Johnson documents in outlets like the New York Times and CNN, including language choices, source selection, and what he calls “Moats of Rationalization.” Rather than blaming right-wing outlets, the focus lands squarely on the center-left press and the uncomfortable question of institutional complicity in shaping public understanding of mass atrocity.

In this podcast Jason Brown and Corinna Barnard discuss the vast and ever expanding US military budget and the proliferation of US military bases and facilities — beginning right here at home in the first congressional district of Massachusetts.

Welcome to another episode of Culture Shift, where we explore an eye-opening documentary that reveals the concealed threats associated with the U.S. military-industrial complex. Titled "Earth’s Greatest Enemy," this film is the brainchild of journalist Abby Martin and Iraq War veteran Michael Prysner. It stands apart from traditional war documentaries, presenting a compelling narrative that intertwines antiwar advocacy and climate activism. Through striking imagery and poignant personal stories, it highlights the profound toll that militarization takes on people and the planet. In this episode, we'll delve into the film's insightful portrayal of those adversely affected by U.S. military actions—ranging from veterans facing housing crises to communities impacted by police militarization. Together, we will analyze how this cinematic work aims to inspire unified efforts against a common adversary. Tune in as we peel back the layers of this essential film and discuss its significance for the antiwar and climate movements.