Correct me if I'm Norm

Norm sits down with Lillian Lin for an intimate and wide-ranging discussion, exploring the extraordinary tapestry of her life experiences. Lillian discusses her medical odyssey, beginning with a stage four neuroblastoma diagnosis as an infant that recently led to kidney transplant surgery. She reflects on how her health journey has shaped her relationship with her teenage son, whose interest in pursuing medicine stems partly from w...

Norm sits down with graphic designer extraordinaire and jetsetter; Dairo Chamorro “Mayor of Amtrak.” They share Japanese vodka cocktails while exploring Dairo's colorful journey from Reuters journalist to scotch whiskey entrepreneur, discussing his global travels, family stories, business challenges including tariffs and logistics, his talent for befriending strangers from Amtrak trains to international destinations, and his surpr...

Norm chats with artist Nadine Robbins about her French-American upbringing and artistic journey. Nadine shares memories of childhood in southern France and growing up bilingual.
The conversation covers Nadine's artistic evolution from painting oysters inspired by her Charleston coastal roots to her career breakthrough when an unsolicited gallery submission launched her professional success. She discusses how an eye injury trans...

Norm sits down with Tanvir Alam to explore an extraordinary immigrant story that spans continents and cultures. Tanvir opens up about his path from Bangladesh to America, beginning with his family's early days in tight quarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and his formative years in a multicultural community. Their conversation weaves through the challenges of finding one's place between worlds—the push and pull of maintaining heri...

Norm chats with Bebe Ochs Miscedra about her distinctive name and life in Rhinebeck. Bebe reflects on her childhood, early political influences from Bobby Kennedy, and her strong opinions about Nixon and Trump. They explore how Rhinebeck evolved from a working-class town to a commercial hub, sharing local history and personal memories. Bebe discusses her educational path, career working with people with developmental disabilities, ...

Norm chat with Susan Ray. They discuss her time as an ordained monk at a California monastery, her husband Nicholas Ray's acclaimed but controversial film career, and their collaboration on the experimental film 'We Can't Go Home Again.' Susan opens up about navigating grief, her husband's alcoholism and AA recovery, and her spiritual exploration after his death. She also shares her current projects: writing an autobiographical no...

Norm welcomes Robert Donaldson, a retired educator and local historian who dedicated decades to teaching at Rhinebeck High School, where he specialized in Law and European History. As a distinguished expert on the region's bluestone industry history, Bob takes listeners through his remarkable journey from his early days serving in the Coast Guard Reserve to his fulfilling career as an educator beloved by students and colleagues ali...

Norm sits down with veteran map publisher Eric Riback from his Bronx childhood dreams of radio stardom to founding two successful map companies, Eric's story weaves through game show tapings, National Geographic collaborations, and map-selling ventures in Maine. Eric shares tales of his Russian revolutionary grandparents, his parents' communist connections, and his current work boosting viewership at PANDA, the local public access ...

Norm interviews Emily Sachar, editor and founder of The Daily Catch, a hyperlocal newspaper covering Red Hook and Rhinebeck. They discuss her journey from a curious 11-year-old taking a bus to downtown St. Louis to becoming an intern at The Washington Post under Bob Woodward. Sachar shares insights into the challenges and rewards of local journalism, including the ethics of non-partisan reporting and the community's response to her...

This week's guests were married in Rhinebeck 17 years ago, moved their lives here 7 years ago, and opened their real estate brokerage/interior design studio/ home decor shop, Upstate Down, 5 years ago. They're the most intersting people people around and I'm so happy to have Jon & Delyse Hanson Berry as tonight's guests.

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

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