Best Cook St Productions Podcasts (2026)

1
Farm overtime hour changes, SUNY prison transition program, drag in the North Country 30:22

Play Pause

10h ago30:22

30:22

(Dec 31, 2025) We hear from a State Farm Bureau official about how the change of farm overtime hours affects operations; a new SUNY program matches formerly incarcerated people with internships to help them with the difficult process of finding a job after they're released from prison; and we revisit one of our favorite stories of the year featurin…

1
Public school enrollment trends, Jay Cook, Canada's Giller Prize book review 29:11

9h ago29:11

29:11

(Dec 30, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Warren County road salt, kratom regulations, "Ottawology" 30:27

10h ago30:27

30:27

(Dec 29, 2025) Warren County has been a leader in reducing its use of road salt during winters; the death of a Saratoga County resident helped to inspire new statewide regulations on an over-the-counter herb that could have negative health effects; and a sociologist wants people to recognize that Ottawa is more than just Canada’s national capital.…

1
Watertown's water issue, NYSERDA on NY's energy plan, North Country Jazz Project in North Creek 30:13

1d ago30:13

30:13

(Dec 24, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Prison reform bill, Adirondack indigenous history book, Farm update with Kitty O'Neil 33:28

8d ago33:28

33:28

(Dec 23, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Stefanik drops out, Russians at Lake Placid luge World Cup, Betsy Kepes on mysteries 31:17

3d ago31:17

31:17

(Dec 22, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Whole milk bill approved, Salmon River school boxes, Champlain grief phone, ADK Conditions 28:50

6d ago28:50

28:50

(Dec 19, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Hochul to sign Aid in Dying bill, sports photographer, Depot Theater "Christmas Carol" production 29:08

7d ago29:08

29:08

(Dec 18, 2025)By NCPR News

1
GF school cellphone ban, Hochul Stefanik poll, Duck hunting on the St. Lawrence 28:41

8d ago28:41

28:41

(Dec 17, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Westport VA food pantry, "Miracle" hockey team medal, this month's night sky 31:03

9d ago31:03

31:03

(Dec 16, 2025) The VA opened a food pantry at its medical clinic in Westport last week, the first in the state to offer food as rates of food insecurity rise; President Trump honored the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team at the White House last week with the Congressional Gold Medal; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue guides us through this month's nig…

1
Military families and food, end-of-year bill review, Peter Lourie 29:17

10d ago29:17

29:17

(Dec 15, 2025) Some military members and their families around Fort Drum are struggling with food insecurity and the lasting impacts of the government shutdown; as the year winds down, Gov. Kathy Hochul is working her way through bills that still need her signature; and we talk to the man who has recreated his canoe journey from the headwaters of t…

1
Caribbean Kitchen, young farmer, ADK conditions, 10th Mountain Division Band 29:02

13d ago29:02

29:02

(Dec 12, 2025) For the last two summers, a woman from the Caribbean has been cooking up meals at a motel in Tupper Lake; we meet a young farmer in Jefferson County who is trying to make it in the industry; John Warren checks on trail and mountain conditions in the Adirondacks; and the 10th Mountain Division Band has two upcoming performances of "A …

1
Mohawk land claim vote, mental health responders in Albany, local holiday giving 30:25

14d ago30:25

30:25

(Dec 11, 2025) The House passed a bill to ratify the Mohawk land claim deal in the North Country; we ride along with social service case workers in Albany as they handle emergency calls; and we’ll find out about a few ways you can give back this holiday season.By NCPR News

1
Clemency videos, advocates push for prison reform bill, holiday orchestra concert 29:00

15d ago29:00

29:00

(Dec 10, 2025) We speak with a filmmaker who has been interviewing incarcerated people around the state trying to help their clemency cases; advocates are calling on the governor to sign a prison reform bill, a year after corrections officers beat a Marcy Correctional inmate to death; and we'll hear conversation and music to preview the Orchestra o…

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Lake George boat fire, Bradley's Lookout, fighting censorship, Tim Brookes 30:52

22d ago30:52

30:52

(Dec 9, 2025) An unoccupied tour boat on Lake George was damaged by a fire on Monday morning; we head to Bradley’s Lookout with reporter Amy Feiereisel for a short hike with a big payoff; a bill awaiting the governor’s signature would ensure librarians across New York State can fight censorship within schools; and North Country writer Tim Brooks ha…

1
Bills awaiting signature, Dinapoli campaign, Barb Heller and Danny Gotham 29:21

17d ago29:21

29:21

(Dec 8, 2025) Bills are piling up on Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk as the end of the year draws closer; Democrat State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli is running for a fifth term in next year's election; and we listen back to a conversation with longtime friends and musical collaborators Barb Heller and Danny Gotham.…

1
North Star Health Alliance troubles, accessible ADK trails, weekend holiday events 29:06

27d ago29:06

29:06

(Dec 5, 2025) The North Star Health Alliance says delayed reimbursements from the state threaten patients and over 1,700 jobs; a new study from the Adirondack Land Trust is helping people with disabilities navigate which Adirondack trails are truly accessible; and it’s a big weekend for holiday celebrations throughout the North Country, and we’ll h…

1
SUNY community college enrollment, home health aide, "The Reindeer Games" 29:03

23d ago29:03

29:03

(Dec 4, 2025) Two North Country community colleges had the highest enrollment gains among state schools in the region this fall; we hear about what it's like to work as a home health aide; and we have a conversation with the author and illustrator of a new children's book about how each of Santa's reindeer got their names.…

1
SNAP work requirements, Tom and Jerrys at the Crystal, baked brie with Chef Curtiss 29:03

24d ago29:03

29:03

(Dec 3, 2025) For the first time in years, SNAP work requirements will be enforced in the North Country; we sample the Tom and Jerry holiday cocktail at the Crystal in Watertown, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary; and Chef Curtiss Hemm joins us this morning for a rich and comforting recipe, full of melty cheese.…

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High Peaks snowplow driver, Cook Farm, book review at a beaver pond 33:37

25d ago33:37

33:37

(Dec 2, 2025) Amid one of this winter's first snowstorms, we head out with a young plow driver through Cascade Pass in the Adirondacks; a young family outside of Malone is determined to preserve their farmland by using sustainable farming methods; and NCPR book reviewer Betsy Kepes takes us out to her beaver pond to talk about a new book out of Ver…

1
Akwesasne Lake marker, Wright Peak postcard, Soulful Christmas preview 29:18

26d ago29:18

29:18

(Dec 1, 2025) A new state historical marker at Akwesasne Lake by Paul Smith's College is paying homage to its Indigenous history; NPR's Brian Mann sends an audio postcard from a wintry hike up Wright Peak in the Adirondacks; and we preview the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir's Soulful Christmas concert this Sunday.…

1
Indian Lake Thanksgiving food boxes, ADK amendments, hermit thrush part II 29:05

1M ago29:05

29:05

(Nov 26, 2025) For some North Country communities, local food options are few and far between. This Thanksgiving, special food boxes connect families in the Indian Lake school district with regional farms; Gov. Hochul approved amendments to the Adirondack State Land Master Plan, which notably did not include a special provision for electric mobilit…

1
Childcare funding runs out, Canton soup kitchen, Mohawk story of the hermit thrush 29:31

1M ago29:31

29:31

(Nov 25, 2025) After the state vastly expanded eligibility for childcare programs, funds haven't been able to keep up with demand, with over half of counties running out of money; delays in federal assistance and high food prices are making it a hard start to the holiday season for many in the North Country; and we’ll hear a Mohawk story about how …

1
Gore Mountain lodge dispute, Smullen running as a Trump ally, Parkinson's art exhibit 29:25

1M ago29:25

29:25

(Nov 24, 2025) A new lodge at the base of Gore Mountain is ready to open, but is tied up in disputes between ORDA and the town of Johnsburg; Republican New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen launched his campaign for the NY-21 seat last week, and he's playing up his connection to President Donald Trump; and an exhibit in St. Lawrence County expl…

1
Saranac Lake immigration bill, Buffalo Five wrongful conviction award, ADK conditions 29:20

1M ago29:20

29:20

(Nov 21, 2025) A village bill meant to protect immigrants in Saranac Lake sparked months of tension at board meetings and has left some locals questioning how their police force will respond to the growing threat of immigration enforcement; a federal jury in Rochester has awarded the largest wrongful conviction award in American history to the esta…

1
Reactions to nuclear forum, St. Lawrence Seaway history, fanclubwallet 29:26

1M ago29:26

29:26

(Nov 20, 2025) Assemblyman Scott Gray hosted two nuclear forums so locals could learn more about what it could mean to have a nuclear power plant in the North Country; today's North Country at Work story looks back in time to the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway, and Ottawa musician Hannah Judge talks about how her chronic illness helped to insp…

1
Bare Hill closure, Whitney Estate sale falls through, sound quiz 29:13

1M ago29:13

29:13

(Nov 19, 2025) The state plans to close Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone this spring; we talk with Jim Odato from the Adirondack Explorer, about how the sale of the 36,000-acre Whitney Estate has fallen through due to a deed restriction; and Monica and Catherine try to stump each other with a sound quiz.…

1
Stefanik's NY-21 legacy, Potsdam flooding grant, this month's night sky 30:55

1M ago30:55

30:55

(Nov 18, 2025) As Elise Stefanik sets her sights on the governor's mansion, we take a look at her impact on New York's 21st Congressional District; the village of Potsdam is getting millions of dollars from the state to address flooding after months of community members working together to find solutions; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue guides us …

1
ADK weapons range hearing planned, emergency prep training, deer tracking postcard 32:41

1M ago32:41

32:41

(Nov 17, 2025) The Adirondack Park Agency is sending its first project in 14 years to an adjudicatory hearing; the Senior Planet Center in Plattsburgh will host an emergency preparedness training for North Country families tomorrow; and we head into the woods in Oswegatchie to track down a missing buck.…

1
All-electric delays, Whiteface opening weekend, ADK conditions, sound quiz 29:18

2M ago29:18

29:18

(Nov 14, 2025) Supporters and critics are weighing in on the state's decision to delay a plan to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels from most new homes and buildings; we talk with Whiteface's operations manager ahead of opening weekend; John Warrens checks on winter conditions in the Adirondacks this weekend, plus a winter sound quiz!…

1
Spotted lanternfly; working the night shift, Matt Bondurant 29:34

2M ago29:34

29:34

(Nov 13, 2025) An expert says the North Country's cold climate could prevent a widespread infestation of the invasive spotted lanternfly; one North Country worker says there's beauty in working the night shift; and we’ll hear from the author of a new thriller set in the North Country.By NCPR News

1
ADK weapons range debate continues, nuclear energy forums, Katherine Scott 29:45

2M ago29:45

29:45

(Nov 12, 2025)By NCPR News

1
Warren County Head Start, ADK voters on Stefanik/Hochul, Ken Burns' doc preview 30:52

2M ago30:52

30:52

(Nov 11, 2025) The government shutdown could cause a program that provides free preschool and childcare for low income families in Warren County to close at the end of the month; woters in the North Country are finding flaws in the candidates who are running to be New York's governor; and local PBS stations will host sneak previews of Ken Burns' mu…

1
Stefanik campaign launch, Cashman post-election, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

(Nov 10, 2025) Jimmy Vielkind and Andrew Waite from the New York Public News Network discuss Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's bid for New York governor; Assemblyman-elect Michael Cashman says he plans to make the North Country's voice heard as a member of the legislative majority in Albany; and today is the 50th anniversary of the S.S. Edmund Fitzger…

1
Stefanik announces run for governor, code enforcement officer, ADK trail conditions 29:16

2M ago29:16

29:16

(Nov 7, 2025) North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced her run for Governor of New York this morning; amid cuts to social safety net programs like SNAP, folks in the North Country are stretching their dollars even further; in today’s North Country at Work story, we hear from a code enforcement officer who’s responsible for a big chunk o…

1
Prop 1 results, Newcomb housing pilot, hunting with non-toxic ammunition 29:36

2M ago29:36

29:36

(Nov 6, 2025) Prop 1 was narrowly approved by voters, paving the way for a constitutional amendment to allow further development at a ski complex in Lake Placid; a house for sale in Newcomb represents a potential solution for affordable workforce housing; and we'll sit down with the head of a statewide sportsmen's group about why he wants hunters t…

1
Election results, Coon Mountain update, Chef Curtiss update 29:20

2M ago29:20

29:20

(Nov 5, 2025) We have results for local races across the North Country; lawmakers in Essex County are pushing back against the Adirondack Land Trust’s plan to rename a mountain near Westport; and Chef Curtiss joins the show for a quick and easy beer bread recipe.By NCPR News

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Early voting numbers, Sand River Farm, Fiddling with Tradition 33:18

2M ago33:18

33:18

(Nov 4, 2025) In the North Country, the number of people who cast their ballots early is way up compared to the previous off-year election; we visit a small farm in Keeseville that’s rethinking what it means to grow and share food; and we look back at a conversation on how St. Lawrence County fiddler Gretchen Koehler shares her project on North Cou…

1
Local election races, NY's redistricting fight, Matthew Algeo 29:30

2M ago29:30

29:30

(Nov 3, 2025) Ahead of Election Day, we have stories on two local races, the Canton town supervisor and the Clinton County clerk; New York could soon enter the national fight over redistricting; and we have a conversation with Matthew Algeo, the author of a book that details the history of New York's subway system.…

1
SNAP freeze looms, Prop 1 explainer, Watertown hydro plant, ADK conditions 29:11

2M ago29:11

29:11

(Oct 31, 2025) With food stamp checks expected to be withheld due to the federal government shutdown, low-income residents are a food pantry in St. Lawrence County are anxious about where their food will come from; Proposition 1 would fix a constitutional violation tied to an Olympic sports complex in Lake Placid and add 2,500 to the forest preserv…

1
Political newcomers in NoCo politics, food bank distribution, Lady in the Lake 30:58

2M ago30:58

30:58

(Oct 30, 2025) We’ll hear about a couple of upcoming elections in the North Country that feature political newcomers, including for Watertown’s city council seats; as nearly three million New Yorkers prepare for a disruption in their SNAP benefits, the Regional Food Bank is planning for its largest-ever Thanksgiving meal distribution; and a Lake Pl…

1
Essex County write-ins, LED headlights, Kitty O'Neil on North Country farms 30:50

2M ago30:50

30:50

(Oct 29, 2025) There are an unusually high number of write-in campaigns for this November’s election in Essex County; a New York State lawmaker is talking about distraction concerns from the modern LED headlights; and Kitty O'Neil joins the show to talk about how North Country farms are doing as they wrap up the 2025 growing season.…

1
Weapons testing in Lewis, network technician, Honni David 30:55

2M ago30:55

30:55

(Oct 28, 2025) A proposal to build a weapons range for military-grade cannons has sparked concerns in the Adirondack town of Lewis; today's North Country at Work story is about a technician whose job is to keep everything online; and we have a conversation with an artist from Akwesasne who is fulfilling his childhood dreams.…

1
Assembly special election, Erie Canal's 200th anniversary, "Math Cats" 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

(Oct 27, 2025) Democrat Michael Cashman and Republican Brent Davison are vying for a state Assembly seat in an upcoming special election; to mark the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, a replica boat is recreating the first trip from Buffalo to New York Harbor; and we talk with St. Lawrence professor Dan Look, the author of “Math Cats: Scratching…

1
Medical aid in dying legislation, remote worker in Lowville, ADK trail conditions 29:06

2M ago29:06

29:06

(Oct 24, 2025) Gov. Kathy Hochul is weighing whether to sign legislation that would allow someone with a terminal illness to end their life; after workers with newly remote jobs left cities for the countryside during the pandemic, some who moved to the North Country are still here; and John Warren checks on trail conditions in the Adirondacks.…

1
Ontario to ADK wildlife corridor, Watertown zoo donations, Saranac Lake thriller 29:22

2M ago29:22

29:22

(Oct 23, 2025) An environmental group wants Ontario's transportation ministry to include wildlife over and underpasses in its plans to expand a major highway that cuts through a critical pathway for animals; Watertown’s Zoo has seen a surge of donations after The New York Times published an article about it last week; and we hear a review of a thri…

1
Prison oversight legislation, fixing transmitters in Old Forge, NCPR founding mother Martha Foley 29:13

2M ago29:13

29:13

(Oct 22, 2025) Advocates for people incarcerated in New York State are pushing Gov. Hochul to sign a bill that would expand prison oversight and require more cameras; we trek up McCauley Mountain in Old Forge with NCPR’s engineers as they prep a transmitter for winter; and one of NCPR’s founding mothers, Martha Foley, joins us in the studio to talk…

1
Marcy guards verdicts, Thom Hallock retirement, effective peacemaking-part II 33:36

2M ago33:36

33:36

(Oct 21, 2025)By NCPR News

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Potsdam's "No Kings" protest, NYS Young Republican fallout, effective protesting 33:20

2M ago33:20

33:20

(Oct 20, 2025) About 7 million people across the country took to the streets over the weekend to protest the Trump Administration, including more than a thousand people in Potsdam; a private group chat is having big consequences for Republicans around the country and in New York; and sit down with a local philosopher and Quaker to talk about what m…

1
NYS looking at Whitney Estate, Malone school librarian, a hike up Jay Mountain 33:16

3M ago33:16

33:16

(Oct 17, 2025) Gov. Hochul wrote a letter last week expressing interest in the state purchasing 32,000 acres of the Whitney estate in the Adirondacks; we meet an elementary school librarian in Malone who doesn't think her library should be quiet; and Catherine Wheeler and a friend hike up Jay Mountain for some fall leaf-peeping.…