Dennis Lee talks to director Stan Freeman and actor John Haag about local production The Pitch (2024). Hear about the craft of acting, the inspiration for the film, and what it was like being involved in the making of this movie.

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's the easiest and best way for you to support our work and help us reach the most people worldwide!

Hosted by Dennis Lee

Edited by Bobby Falco-Killoran

Produced by Alex Audette in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studios at Greenfield Community College

On this episode of Backyard Oasis, Dennis Lee talks to Stephen Raff about his twenty-plus years as one civil war reenactor amongst thousands from all over the USA!

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's the easiest and best way for you to support our work and help us reach the most people worldwide!

Hosted by Dennis Lee

Edited by Bobby Falco-Killoran

Produced by Alex Audette in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studios at Greenfield Community College

Join us for a special crossover event with Dr. Ruth Potee and Prep School: A Readiness Podcast, originally recorded in July, 2023!

Sugar, opioids, social media, reaching for a glass of wine every time you feel anxious or tired - these and other addictive substances and behaviors affect nearly all of us. Substance use disorder expert Dr. Ruth Potee talks about dopamine and our brains and why we keep doing things that are not good for us. We also delve into how we, as a community, can help our family members and neighbors by reducing judgment and practicing kindness.

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's the easiest and best way for you to support our work and help us reach the most people worldwide!

Created by Denise Schwartz and Carmela Lanza-Weil

Hosted by Denise Schwartz

Edited by Nina Bocko

Produced by Alex Audette in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studios at Greenfield Community College

On this episode of Backyard Oasis, Greenfield Community College's Associate Dean of Community Engagement Judy Raper speaks with Anna Bognolo (Director) and Francesca Passiglia (Teen Librarian) of the Greenfield Public Library. How has attendance been since the new building opened its doors in July 2023? What sort of programming does the library offer these days, and what does a "typical" library user look like? And later in the episode, at producer Alex's request, an update on his daughter's favorite program: Book Babies!

Visit the Greenfield Public Library online at https://greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/ and sign up for their programming newsletter here!

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's the easiest and best way for you to support our work and help us reach the most people worldwide!

Hosted by Judy Raper

Contributors: Anna Bolgnolo, Francesca Passiglia

Produced by Alex Audette

Backyard Oasis is recorded in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studio at Greenfield Community College (MA)

Host Denise Schwartz talks with author and illustrator Christine Copeland, whose picture books reflect her delight in introducing young children to the wonders of nature through gentle prose and beautiful watercolors. She believes that when “children grow to understand the natural world, and the relationship that animals have to each other and their environment, the more they can embrace and steward it.” We also talk about how creative work of any can lead to greater physical and emotional well-being for people of all ages.

Be sure to look for Christine's book series online and give each installment the five-star review it deserves on Goodreads, Google, and Amazon!

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's the easiest and best way for you to support our work and help us reach the most people worldwide!

Hosted by Denise Schwartz

Contributors: Christine Copeland

Produced by Alex Audette

Backyard Oasis is recorded in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studio at Greenfield Community College (MA)

No more bugs on the windshield

Fewer birds in the trees

Humans best look up

Before nature brings us to our knees.

Remember when we would go for drives on summer evenings and return home with a windshield covered with insect bodies? Why doesn't that happen anymore? It’s called the windshield phenomenon, and it’s about how our cars’ windshields don’t receive as much insect splattering the way they used to.

Dan Conlon, past president of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association talks with your host, Denise Schwartz, about where all those insects have gone, and WHY?

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Hosted by Denise Schwartz

Contributors: Dan Conlon

Edited by Bobby Falco-Killoran (A.K.A. DJ Vibe Wise)

Produced by Alex Audette

Backyard Oasis is recorded in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studio at Greenfield Community College (MA)

Dennis Lee talks to veteran auctioneer Don Raucher about auctioneering horses, cars and contents from estates. Find out if your items might be successful at auction, and a bit of etiquette advice if you plan on attending one!

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? Have an episode idea you'd love to share? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Hosted by Dennis Lee

Guest: Don Raucher

Edited by Bobby Falco-Killoran (A.K.A. DJ Vibe Wise)

Produced by Alex Audette

Recorded in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studio at Greenfield Community College (MA)

Are you ready for the unexpected? You come across a hiker bleeding seriously from a fall - could you stop the bleed? Could you help a person who was drowning, having a stroke, choking or having a life-threatening allergic reaction? Would you be calm and confident in your ability to respond to an emergency? Nicole Roma Thurrell of the Institute for Wild Med teaches us how to be prepared.

Find the Institute for Wilderness Medicine at www.wildmed.com

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Hosted by Denise Schwartz

Guest: Nicole Roma Thurrell

Edited by Bobby Falco-Killoran (A.K.A. DJ Vibe Wise)

Produced by Alex Audette

Recorded in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center's Multimedia Studio at Greenfield Community College (MA)