August 19, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, our guest Dana Hawkins-Simons takes us on a journey that’s anything but ordinary — from her roots in rural Kansas to adventures around the globe. A celebrated journalist, singer, and tireless advocate, Dana’s story is equal parts grit, globe-trotting, and groove.
We talk about her career in international journalism (including the Barcelona Olympics!), her battle with Pernicious Anemia, and the Wall Street Journal article that turned her into a voice for patients everywhere. And of course, we get into her passion for music — from belting the blues to Montclair Early Music's MedievalFest, where knights, hurdy-gurdy's, and costumes collide.
Mark your calendar for August 24th from 11am-5pm at the Montclair Art Museum and prepare to be transported back in time as Dana shares how music, history, and community come together for a day that’s more than just an event. It's an experience you don't want to miss!
Dana's Wall Street Journal article about Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome, Dana.
I'm so happy to have you onLost in Jersey.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm thrilled to be here.
Really, I am a big fan of thepod from the very beginning.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We're so excited to have you on just to talk about,
of course, the Montclair earlymusic and also the medieval fest
coming up, claire, early Musicand also the Medieval Fest
coming up.
But before we get there we wantto know a little bit for our
listeners, a little bit aboutyour background and where you
grew up and, of course, how'dyou get to Jersey?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Okay, it's a long, circuitous route.
So I was born and raised inrural Kansas.
Jeanette, I know you're fromTexas.
Yeah we're kind of sisters yeah, we are.
So I went to undergraduatethere and then I worked in
television for a year at thelocal Cape Sunflower Cablevision
(00:55):
, covering the University of KUand also weekend anchoring, you
know that kind of fun thing.
And then I kind of I reallywanted to see the world.
I just really wanted to get theheck out of Dodge.
I was actually born in DodgeCity, kansas, so I wanted to get
out and I wanted to explore theworld.
(01:15):
I love languages.
I wanted to study languagesmore, so I ended up living
abroad for three years.
I was in Madrid for a year on aliterary fellowship and then I
went to Taiwan.
I wanted to you know, kind ofcircle the planet.
And I was there for almost ayear teaching English at the
National University and studyingChinese.
And then I was in Brussels forabout a year studying French and
(01:39):
working at Business Week, aslike the junior bureau chief
there at Business Week, as likethe junior bureau chief there.
And when I was there, my bosswho was incredible he said you
have to go to ColumbiaJournalism School, graduate
school.
And I was like what's that?
I mean, I had no idea.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I mean, if you're from rural Kansas you know, back
in the day I didn't even knowwhat a Navy League school was.
I love that because I rememberwhen I met Rachel she had to
explain the difference betweenPenn State and Penn University.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
I was like why did I?
That sounds awful.
Why did I explain?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
that?
No, I think I didn't know.
I mean I just didn't know.
I'm like you.
It's such a difference, beingfrom the North and the South
when it comes to the type ofacademia, like world.
So I love that you said that,because I don't think people
realize how it's just not notthe thing there.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I had no idea.
It was an option.
You know, maybe something ontelevision or in the movies?
You know maybe something ontelevision or in the movies,
yeah, um, so I applied, I got in, uh, I went there for a year
and then I graduated and startedworking for us news and world
report in new york.
Fantastic experience, greatpeople loved it.
Uh, learned so much and I meanthis is partly just good fortune
(03:00):
is that I had a good friend whowas working with NBC and she
was going to be covering theOlympics in Barcelona.
I spoke fluent Spanish, soshe's like get over here, I
swear I can get you a job.
She did.
I was a field producer for NBCand so we were interviewing the
athletes and also I was the onlyone who spoke Spanish.
(03:21):
So I was doing likepre-interviewing and field
producing and it was so much fun.
And the first day my boss fromthe DC station, nbc station, pat
Collins, he said Dana, what areour stories, what are we going
to do?
So I gave him a list of the 10stories that we did.
You know, like the pins, lasRamblas, the Sagrada Familrada
(03:43):
Familia Church, the architecture, the nude beaches.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
It was hilarious.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, he loved my ideas.
Now it was really fun.
And then after that I wasplanning on just you know
staying in Europe.
I was having a great time, butUS News called me and they said
please come back, we'll promoteyou.
We'll move you to ourheadquarters in DC.
So I did and that was great.
But US News called me and theysaid please come back, we'll
promote you, we'll move you toour headquarters in DC.
So I did, and that was greattoo.
I love DC.
I ended up living there forlike 17 years.
(04:11):
I was at US News.
That's where I met my husband,who, Rachel knows.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Our lovely lovely husband, I'll pause there
because, rachel, before we goton the interview, she actually
said you know, her husband is sonice too.
I have the best husband.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I love him.
He's amazing, very supportive,very smart and fun and he's just
a great guy.
So and anybody who knows himknows that and we got married,
had our daughter Ella in DC andthen he got a job in the New
York City area.
I was I was deep intojournalism, research mode,
trying to find the best place tolive in the New York area and
(04:50):
there were all these calculatorslike Money Magazine and
everybody had the best place tolive calculator and I kept
putting in all the things thatwe wanted.
We wanted a diverse community,we wanted affordability, we
wanted culture, we wanted adecent commute, we wanted great
schools.
And guess what Town kept comingup.
(05:12):
My husband and I areinterracial couple, he's black,
my daughter's mixed race, so itjust kept coming up like off of
the list.
So it was kind of a no brainer,you know, to move here.
So that's how I ended up inJersey.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I think why a lot of people end up here is because of
that checklist and it hits allof those things Because I think
there's so many towns that arewonderful within the New York
Metroplex area, but Montclairjust clicks these boxes, you
know.
So how long have you been herenow?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
We moved here in September 2009.
Okay, we've been here 17 years,with a two-year stint in London
in 2018 to 2020.
For my husband, he was workingwith the Wall Street Journal and
the London Bureau.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
That's about how long I've been here too, but I
didn't have that two-year break,rachel, you did, you had a
break.
Yeah, that two-year break,rachel, you did, you had a break
.
So you came back, and now areyou still doing reporting work,
or have you shifted to somethingelse?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Well, I ended up freelancing for a bit and then I
had this illness.
So there's something I shouldprobably talk about.
It's something calledpernicious anemia that people
don't really know much about.
It's an autoimmune condition.
It's fairly common.
It's basically my body does notabsorb B12, the vitamin B12,
the way yours does.
(06:32):
It doesn't matter what I eat orwhat I do.
My body doesn't absorb thatvitamin and you need that
vitamin every day to live.
You need to have that for yourred blood cells, for your
cardiovascular, for yourdigestive system, for your brain
.
It really affects every systemin your body.
So you know it's somethingthat's genetic, it's hereditary.
(06:54):
I was born with it.
I didn't know I had it untilyou know about 10, 15 years ago
10 years ago, okay.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
How did you finally get to that diagnosis?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, I kept getting sicker and sicker over the years
.
This was mostly in Montclair,but about 20 years ago that I
started definitely not feelingas well and so I was just
focusing on raising Ella, youknow, just putting everything
into that and like you know,like, oh, maybe it's just that I
kept getting worse and I kept.
I went to so many doctors overthe years I'm sure you've heard
this story before.
It's it's really awful withoutgetting answers and finally, and
(07:29):
getting told, you know, thingsthat were like, oh, it's
perimenopause and all this.
And you just, you know it's notthat.
You know it's much worse thanthat.
You know it's affecting yourentire body on a daily basis.
So I got to the point where Icould barely stand up and move
and I just went to my doctor'soffice, without an appointment
(07:49):
even, and just said I am amedical journalist, all right.
So I had done a lot of researchand I figured it out.
I'm like this is B12 deficiency.
I probably have perniciousanemia.
So I went and I made them testme and yeah, that's what I had.
Oh my gosh, yeah me.
And yeah, that's what I had.
So they gave me a shot rightthere in the office and it's
(08:09):
unbelievable how much better Ifelt within like 15 minutes.
I mean, you know, I still had,I have all the symptoms, but it
just was night and day.
Doctors in the U?
S just don't know much about it.
Um, in the UK they they arebetter about it, and in Europe
but the US, because there is nocure, it's chronic, but because
the medication is a simple B12shot, it's very inexpensive.
(08:33):
I have to give myself shotsevery day because that's the
medicine that no one's makingmoney from it.
So, like doctors, don't evenlearn about it.
You know, doctors learn verylittle about vitamins and med
school.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Anyway, what you're saying is also a very good
lesson, and just keep gettingreminded that you have to be
your own your own advocate youknow all of that and and for
your family too, because a lot,lots of doctors will just look
at you, know a baseline numbers,and be like you're fine and but
if you know yourself, I'm notfine.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
You have to keep at it and I'm glad that you found
you know the solution, but howdid that interact with your work
?
I mean, it sounds like it madeyou have to put it on hold.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yeah, it had a tremendous impact.
For many years I still wasfreelancing at home.
Then we went to London andthere I got.
That's where I learned aboutthe Pernicious Anemia Society,
because that's where they'rebased.
It's a UK charity and they areso much more advanced on this
than we are, and so I ended upwriting a really like six page
very long article for the WallStreet Journal.
(09:42):
It was their number one articleon their website Wow, for one
month.
So glad I did it because that Iknow that article has helped a
lot of people.
So now I consider myself apatient advocate for the
Pernicious and Amused Societyand, you know, it's probably
hopefully it's going to be mynext act.
I'm going to more with them andwith that I already am kind of
like their US you know person.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Well, before we get off of this subject, I just like
to know what are the symptomsthat someone might have that
they need to look closer at this.
Good question.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, that is a great question and that's hard too
because it's kind of so manythings.
It's a neurological condition,so anything that affects your
brain, your nervous system,which includes your digestive
system and includes yourcardiovascular system, so that's
what makes it tough to diagnose.
You have symptoms head to toe.
You know everything from brainfog to tinnitus.
(10:36):
I'm just going to go down mybody to like a thickened tongue,
to like feeling like somethingstuck in your throat, to
numbness in your arms and legs,to digestive issues, and then,
as it progresses, you havetrouble walking and all this.
And mine did progress to thelevel where I do have permanent
nerve damage, but it wentuntreated for so many years even
(11:01):
though I was trying desperatelyto find out what it was.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
And when you get your blood work done, do you look at
the iron and ferritin and ironabsorption levels or it doesn't
really show there.
Do you need to get vitamin B12checked?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Yeah, and fortunately it does not show in your iron
testing, although some peoplethat is also a concern.
But yeah, you need a specificB12 test, but there's so many
problems with that test.
There's no gold standard test.
There is a specific test forthat, which is very helpful, but
it's really hard to get.
(11:37):
It's the kind of thing where,basically, if the B12 shots help
you, then you know that.
If you test positive forpernicious anemia, then you know
you have it.
If the B12 shots help you, youknow you have it.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Well, thanks for sharing that.
I mean, hopefully you know thatwill help somebody that might
be having these symptoms and arelost and don't even know about
this.
You know so, yeah, and wouldn'tknow to ask.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Yeah, I mean you can.
They can start by searching formy article.
So if they search Dana Hawkins,Simons, Wall Street Journal and
then the other thing is to goto the Pernecious Endemic
Society's website, We'll put alink in the show notes.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
It's helpful information and I'm glad that
you found what is working foryou.
So it sounds like now one ofthe things that we know that
you're involved in is with musicand also a Renaissance festival
, and we want to get to thebottom of both of these.
Tell us about the two of thesethings.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Yeah, and that you sing.
How did you first becomeinvolved or find the Montclair
early music?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I do sing.
I love to sing.
I'm a singer.
I've sung in probably a dozendifferent bands and groups.
I started a group when I livedin DC Dana and the Juke Jammers
and we played at festivals andevents and I was the lead singer
.
We did jazz and blues and popand all kinds of fun stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
And then when I worked at US News.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
We had Blues you Can Use and that was a 12-piece.
It was so much fun.
It was a 12-piece band and wehad a sax player and an
harmonica player and I was alead singer there too with two
other folks and we performed atthe White House Correspondents
Association.
We performed at different barsin DC and that was fun.
(13:16):
And then in London I sang inthe Belsize Community Choir,
which was quite lovely.
And then back in Montclair,before we left, I had sung in
Parents who Rock.
I usually would do it when Ihad the benefits of years sing
like a jazz acapella.
So the last two years Irecently joined the New Jersey
Oratory of Society.
So that's like classical musicand, oh, rachel, you should come
(13:39):
to.
We did Carmina Burana.
Oh my God, it was so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Oh, I really need to go because I have heard about it
and I've known different peoplethrough the years who have been
in it.
It's based out of Montclair.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Oh, wow.
And then the one other groupthat I'm involved in called rock
voices and they are.
That's really fun.
I just joined that over thelast spring that we have an
incredible director, Larissa J,and we perform just like pop
music covers, and and it's, it'sgreat.
It's just kind of so fun.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
First you've had such an incredible you know career
and now it seems like you you'reinvolved in so many like things
that give, give to you and likeyour, you know your talents
thanks.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, do you want to talk about montclair early music
?
Okay, so montclair early musicis a non-profit based on
montclair, started several yearsago by julianne pape.
She's a wonderful woman whorecently retired from the group,
although she still plays withus in our instrumental ensemble.
And then Medieval Fest lastyear was our first one.
(14:45):
We didn't quite know what toexpect, although I was getting
so much great response that Ikind of thought, wow, this could
be big.
Well, it was huge.
There were over 900.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Over 900 people, wow, and that's all in front of the
lawn in front of the MontclairArt Museum, right, we also had
inside the Lair Hall and we hadlike several hundred people in
there learning this incrediblefolklore dance from medieval
times.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
But it's super exciting.
I mean dance from medievaltimes, but it's super exciting.
I mean over half the people Iwould say came in costume last
year.
I sing in the quartet and youknow I'll be there in costume.
You guys, oh my God, you haveto come and come.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
We will, we do, we will, we will come and we will
take video and.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I'm excited.
I was telling Rachel that I hadbeen to a medieval festival
years ago.
I've only been to one.
People love them.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
There's an incredible one in Texas.
There's a whole documentaryabout it.
Oh, I know, did you?
Speaker 3 (15:41):
watch that documentary.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yes, I did.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Holy cow, that documentary was wild.
What is it?
What is it?
It's that one guy, that guythat did it all.
He was wild.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Wait, I need to know what this is.
Oh, rachel, I don't know, manit is.
I think it's called ren fairyes, oh, yes.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Okay, jeanette, you did tell me to watch that, oh my
god.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, it was kind of a creepy king situation.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
It is in the creepy king situation, yes, for sure.
But you know, they are really,really popular for a variety of
reasons.
I mean, you don't have to beinto Renaissance, like world, to
enjoy them, they're just, it'sjust otherworldly, definitely
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
It's a party and it ours is, very ours is.
It's like a mini.
There's the one in Tuxedo Parkthat people love, which is great
, but it's huge and it's such abig deal to get there and to be
there and it's so expensive.
It's kind of family friendlyand kind of not.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Okay, we're going to do a clip and it's going to be
fun and awesome to tell everyonewhat Medieval Fest is and why
they need to come.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Medieval Fest is Montclair's most popular summer
event.
It's Sunday, august 24th to theMontclair Art Museum.
Last year we had over 900revelers having a great time and
I would say half of them camein costume.
So don't hold back.
We have the Montclair Brewerythere with their Medieval Fest
(17:06):
Ale Mead, which is delicious.
We have all kinds of otherwonderful vendors Sankofa,
cilantro Food Truck, montclairBread Company.
We have Point 5 Jersey, whichis a new non-alcoholic beverage.
Oh yeah, they're going to bringtheir non-alcoholic beer,
cocktails, wine, adaptogens andnootropics to keep your energy
(17:29):
up for the festivities.
We have an incredible medievalreenactment group called the
Knights of Acre and they comeand they are very serious with
their historically accuratecostuming.
They do battles.
They do battle demos and playgames with the children and do
even poetry readings and thingslike that.
(17:49):
And then we have music all day.
So all afternoon we haveMontclair Early Music Ensemble
will perform.
Our children, the Dragon Bardswill perform, the seniors are in
the group called the Musettes.
We also have special guests.
The Gypsy Funk Squad is comingand we also have Avon Fair,
which is a beautiful group ofwomen who sing Celtic music.
(18:10):
We're looking for more sponsors.
We have a few.
We have Egan's and Holstein'sand Red Eye Cafe and Barbara
Eclectic, but we're looking formore sponsors, so please get in
touch if you're interested inthat.
Yeah, we're just lookingforward to a great afternoon of
family-friendly fun and bringinghistory to life in Montclair.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
I love that Sounds like a blast.
What time is it from?
It's 11 to 5.
11 to 5.
And where do people park?
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
that's up to you.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I love that.
Good luck on that.
Take your horses.
You get premier parking spotsif you take a horse and you're
historically accurate.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
The mayor came last year and she's already been
emailing me like oh, you know,I'm so excited.
Like you know, she's planningon coming again and delivering
our welcome and let me tell youyou were the most beautiful
costume last year, so I'm hopingshe I'm not surprised that
again.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I know Renee Renee Baskerville will be there, but
I'm sure a lot of people in townwill be going there.
As you said, last year therewere 900 people there and I bet
you're going to have more thisyear.
That's amazing for a first yearthat you had so many people
show up, so you must have donesome impressive marketing too.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
You hit the jackpot.
Yeah, nice job.
I really want to dressappropriately, but do I Google
what to wear Because I don'treally know?
Speaker 3 (19:38):
You could.
Oh my God, rachel.
Yes, we have to try, we do.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I'll be very understated.
I'm sure I'll be like I don'tknow if you can wear all black.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Oh yeah, you have a sword, don't you have a sword?
Speaker 3 (19:51):
in your house.
Medieval times sword story issuch a thing.
Oh my God, medieval times.
Does anybody from medievaltimes come out there?
Not that I know of, we'd loveto have them.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
You can think broadly , like you can dress like a
fairy.
You can dress to have them.
You can think broadly, like youcan dress like a fairy.
You can dress like a pirate.
You can dress like a Viking.
With some great Viking costumesyou can, you know, like the
woman who won the cost thecostume contest last year, had
these gorgeous like antlerantler head and then this big,
beautiful white dress.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
So do you have to sign up to be in the competition
?
No, how does the competitionfor the costume thing work?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
To be honest, last year it was actually as far as
the moment Because somebody hadgiven us some nice gift you know
, coffee pot or something andwe're like, well, let's give
this away.
Who are we going to give it to?
And then I said, let's have acostume contest Because we had
all these great costumes.
Let's have a costume contestbecause we had all these great
costumes.
So we just got on the mic andwe're like, okay, everybody who
wants to enter come up to thefront.
And then we had people come upto see who won and it was pretty
(20:52):
obvious that this one how fun,$100 gift card to Egan's the
winner goes.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Oh, okay, now I'm really going to try.
What year are we talking abouthere when we think in
Renaissance?
Does anybody here know, knowmedieval period?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
is considered like, I think, the 1300s, to like 1100,
to like 1500.
But you know what this is?
The thing is that there's notan exact like scholars will
differ.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Let's just say that scholars will differ yeah, I'll
figure out what the persianswere wearing around that time.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah I would love that.
And so for sponsorships, again,I'm going to put out another
play 50 get you mentioned in ourprogram and on our website.
We have different levels, allthe way up to $1,000.
And for $1,000, you can get afree concert, personal free
concert.
Oh I love that.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Well, I also want to direct people to the Montclair
Early Music website where youcould see the videos and hear it
.
I love your voice, dana, so itwas nice to like hear you
singing.
I was listening to the one atthe Montclair public library so
you can go on and see.
Just so you can get excitedhearing what you're going to be
(21:59):
able to hear and just get intoit.
Yeah, like rock out, rock outto the flute no, lute, not flute
.
Well, I want to ask, though,about the instruments, because I
was looking to see whatinstruments you know recorder,
and you have cello, I saw, butlike so what?
(22:20):
Are the different instrumentsthat are allowed for that period
are allowed for that period.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Yeah, there are a lot , a lot of options.
We I wish we had more, but wedo have some.
We do have a good base.
We have all types of recorders,so it's not just that recorder.
There's soprano, there's tenor,there's bass, there's buffoon,
there's like really huge Oneperson plays something that's
like that tall, like really big.
And then there's cello, wherewe did have a violin player.
(22:47):
We have great percussionists.
The percussion is veryimportant and we have a
percussionist, louise.
And then we also have the mostfascinating, fascinating
instrument we have is somethingcalled the hurdy-gurdy.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Oh, I've heard of the hurdy-gurdy.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Look it up.
They're beautiful.
They look kind of like a crossbetween an accordion and a
guitar maybe Only they'regorgeous wooden instruments.
We have a woman who plays itincredibly well, wow, and it's
just a great sound.
It's a great sound.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
I'm so glad that we got to talk to you and learn
about this festival and alsojust hear about your background.
You've had such an interestinglife.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
And you can come from , you know, Dodge City, Kansas.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
So speaking of that, from Kansas to Jersey, do you
have something that you wouldsay is your favorite thing about
living in New Jersey?
I love Montclair and I love.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Jersey.
Who knew right.
I grew up thinking that way.
I love nature, so I love thingslike Duke's Farm, if you
haven't been there.
I love all the gardens.
I love the Iris Garden.
I love Van Fleck.
I love her sculpture.
I love you know all thatLongwood.
I also love going to Princetonit's such a beautiful, fun town
(24:01):
and the museums there and theNewark and Newark.
I'd love to go to Newarkdowntown.
There's so many coffee shopsand restaurants and the Newark
museum.
And in Montclair.
Can I name a few of my favoriterestaurants?
Of course I love the brewery.
Of course I love Sankofa cafe.
I also love the new cafe calledskip to my brew on.
Oh my God, you have to go.
(24:22):
It's adorable.
It's so beautifully decoratedand they have lattes.
I love Ube and just adore Udecorated and they have Ube
lattes.
I love Ube, I just adore Ube,so they have Ube lattes.
I also love Zubma.
I love Marcel's, I love Le SoukMercado, samba.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
You're just naming off restaurants at this point
You're naming off every placethere is.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
And we're going to have the longest link tree for
Dana's episode and we're goingto have the longest link tree
for Dana's episode.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
I remember creating a reel for Paper Plane and then I
just faded it out.
He just kept naming places andI was just like just go to our
webpage.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
My goal is that when people talk about all the great
festivals in Montclair the filmfestival, the literary festival
what's the other great festival?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
The Jazz Festival.
Jazz Festival, yeah you haveamazing festivals, guess what
the Gay?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Pride Festival, gay Pride Festival.
We also have Medieval Festival.
I think we have earned it.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I think we belong in that pantheon of amazing
Montclair festivals, I feel likeyou're way on already on the, I
mean to kick it off with 900,your very first time out and
Rachel think about joining us onyour violin.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
We would love to have them.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Oh, okay, oh, but violins, when were they invented
?
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I should probably know that we're trying to get
the mayor to you know she playscello.
Did she tell you that?
No, she didn't tell us that Itold her step in.
Anytime join us.
You know, just jump in.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Well, this has been great.
I'm so glad, so nice to meetyou and I'm looking forward to
seeing you at the festival.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Thank you so much.
This is a pleasure to be herewith you.
Wonderful ladies, I reallyadmire what you've done with
this.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You're doing an incredible job.
I mean, I love it.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Thank you.
This podcast was produced byRachel Martens and Jeanette
Afsharian.
You can find us on Spotify,itunes and Buzzsprout.
Thanks for listening.
See you next week.
Welcome, Dana.
I'm so happy to have you onLost in Jersey.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm thrilled to be here.
Really, I am a big fan of thepod from the very beginning.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We're so excited to have you on just to talk about,
of course, the Montclair earlymusic and also the medieval fest
coming up, claire, early Musicand also the Medieval Fest
coming up.
But before we get there we wantto know a little bit for our
listeners, a little bit aboutyour background and where you
grew up and, of course, how'dyou get to Jersey?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Okay, it's a long, circuitous route.
So I was born and raised inrural Kansas.
Jeanette, I know you're fromTexas.
Yeah we're kind of sisters yeah, we are.
So I went to undergraduatethere and then I worked in
television for a year at thelocal Cape Sunflower Cablevision
(00:55):
, covering the University of KUand also weekend anchoring, you
know that kind of fun thing.
And then I kind of I reallywanted to see the world.
I just really wanted to get theheck out of Dodge.
I was actually born in DodgeCity, kansas, so I wanted to get
out and I wanted to explore theworld.
(01:15):
I love languages.
I wanted to study languagesmore, so I ended up living
abroad for three years.
I was in Madrid for a year on aliterary fellowship and then I
went to Taiwan.
I wanted to you know, kind ofcircle the planet.
And I was there for almost ayear teaching English at the
National University and studyingChinese.
And then I was in Brussels forabout a year studying French and
(01:39):
working at Business Week, aslike the junior bureau chief
there at Business Week, as likethe junior bureau chief there.
And when I was there, my bosswho was incredible he said you
have to go to ColumbiaJournalism School, graduate
school.
And I was like what's that?
I mean, I had no idea.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I mean, if you're from rural Kansas you know, back
in the day I didn't even knowwhat a Navy League school was.
I love that because I rememberwhen I met Rachel she had to
explain the difference betweenPenn State and Penn University.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
I was like why did I?
That sounds awful.
Why did I explain?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
that?
No, I think I didn't know.
I mean I just didn't know.
I'm like you.
It's such a difference, beingfrom the North and the South
when it comes to the type ofacademia, like world.
So I love that you said that,because I don't think people
realize how it's just not notthe thing there.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I had no idea.
It was an option.
You know, maybe something ontelevision or in the movies?
You know maybe something ontelevision or in the movies,
yeah, um, so I applied, I got in, uh, I went there for a year
and then I graduated and startedworking for us news and world
report in new york.
Fantastic experience, greatpeople loved it.
Uh, learned so much and I meanthis is partly just good fortune
(03:00):
is that I had a good friend whowas working with NBC and she
was going to be covering theOlympics in Barcelona.
I spoke fluent Spanish, soshe's like get over here, I
swear I can get you a job.
She did.
I was a field producer for NBCand so we were interviewing the
athletes and also I was the onlyone who spoke Spanish.
(03:21):
So I was doing likepre-interviewing and field
producing and it was so much fun.
And the first day my boss fromthe DC station, nbc station, pat
Collins, he said Dana, what areour stories, what are we going
to do?
So I gave him a list of the 10stories that we did.
You know, like the pins, lasRamblas, the Sagrada Familrada
(03:43):
Familia Church, the architecture, the nude beaches.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
It was hilarious.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, he loved my ideas.
Now it was really fun.
And then after that I wasplanning on just you know
staying in Europe.
I was having a great time, butUS News called me and they said
please come back, we'll promoteyou.
We'll move you to ourheadquarters in DC.
So I did and that was great.
But US News called me and theysaid please come back, we'll
promote you, we'll move you toour headquarters in DC.
So I did, and that was greattoo.
I love DC.
I ended up living there forlike 17 years.
(04:11):
I was at US News.
That's where I met my husband,who, Rachel knows.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Our lovely lovely husband, I'll pause there
because, rachel, before we goton the interview, she actually
said you know, her husband is sonice too.
I have the best husband.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I love him.
He's amazing, very supportive,very smart and fun and he's just
a great guy.
So and anybody who knows himknows that and we got married,
had our daughter Ella in DC andthen he got a job in the New
York City area.
I was I was deep intojournalism, research mode,
trying to find the best place tolive in the New York area and
(04:50):
there were all these calculatorslike Money Magazine and
everybody had the best place tolive calculator and I kept
putting in all the things thatwe wanted.
We wanted a diverse community,we wanted affordability, we
wanted culture, we wanted adecent commute, we wanted great
schools.
And guess what Town kept comingup.
(05:12):
My husband and I areinterracial couple, he's black,
my daughter's mixed race, so itjust kept coming up like off of
the list.
So it was kind of a no brainer,you know, to move here.
So that's how I ended up inJersey.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I think why a lot of people end up here is because of
that checklist and it hits allof those things Because I think
there's so many towns that arewonderful within the New York
Metroplex area, but Montclairjust clicks these boxes, you
know.
So how long have you been herenow?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
We moved here in September 2009.
Okay, we've been here 17 years,with a two-year stint in London
in 2018 to 2020.
For my husband, he was workingwith the Wall Street Journal and
the London Bureau.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
That's about how long I've been here too, but I
didn't have that two-year break,rachel, you did, you had a
break.
Yeah, that two-year break,rachel, you did, you had a break
.
So you came back, and now areyou still doing reporting work,
or have you shifted to somethingelse?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Well, I ended up freelancing for a bit and then I
had this illness.
So there's something I shouldprobably talk about.
It's something calledpernicious anemia that people
don't really know much about.
It's an autoimmune condition.
It's fairly common.
It's basically my body does notabsorb B12, the vitamin B12,
the way yours does.
(06:32):
It doesn't matter what I eat orwhat I do.
My body doesn't absorb thatvitamin and you need that
vitamin every day to live.
You need to have that for yourred blood cells, for your
cardiovascular, for yourdigestive system, for your brain
.
It really affects every systemin your body.
So you know it's somethingthat's genetic, it's hereditary.
(06:54):
I was born with it.
I didn't know I had it untilyou know about 10, 15 years ago
10 years ago, okay.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
How did you finally get to that diagnosis?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, I kept getting sicker and sicker over the years
.
This was mostly in Montclair,but about 20 years ago that I
started definitely not feelingas well and so I was just
focusing on raising Ella, youknow, just putting everything
into that and like you know,like, oh, maybe it's just that I
kept getting worse and I kept.
I went to so many doctors overthe years I'm sure you've heard
this story before.
It's it's really awful withoutgetting answers and finally, and
(07:29):
getting told, you know, thingsthat were like, oh, it's
perimenopause and all this.
And you just, you know it's notthat.
You know it's much worse thanthat.
You know it's affecting yourentire body on a daily basis.
So I got to the point where Icould barely stand up and move
and I just went to my doctor'soffice, without an appointment
(07:49):
even, and just said I am amedical journalist, all right.
So I had done a lot of researchand I figured it out.
I'm like this is B12 deficiency.
I probably have perniciousanemia.
So I went and I made them testme and yeah, that's what I had.
Oh my gosh, yeah me.
And yeah, that's what I had.
So they gave me a shot rightthere in the office and it's
(08:09):
unbelievable how much better Ifelt within like 15 minutes.
I mean, you know, I still had,I have all the symptoms, but it
just was night and day.
Doctors in the U?
S just don't know much about it.
Um, in the UK they they arebetter about it, and in Europe
but the US, because there is nocure, it's chronic, but because
the medication is a simple B12shot, it's very inexpensive.
(08:33):
I have to give myself shotsevery day because that's the
medicine that no one's makingmoney from it.
So, like doctors, don't evenlearn about it.
You know, doctors learn verylittle about vitamins and med
school.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Anyway, what you're saying is also a very good
lesson, and just keep gettingreminded that you have to be
your own your own advocate youknow all of that and and for
your family too, because a lot,lots of doctors will just look
at you, know a baseline numbers,and be like you're fine and but
if you know yourself, I'm notfine.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
You have to keep at it and I'm glad that you found
you know the solution, but howdid that interact with your work
?
I mean, it sounds like it madeyou have to put it on hold.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yeah, it had a tremendous impact.
For many years I still wasfreelancing at home.
Then we went to London andthere I got.
That's where I learned aboutthe Pernicious Anemia Society,
because that's where they'rebased.
It's a UK charity and they areso much more advanced on this
than we are, and so I ended upwriting a really like six page
very long article for the WallStreet Journal.
(09:42):
It was their number one articleon their website Wow, for one
month.
So glad I did it because that Iknow that article has helped a
lot of people.
So now I consider myself apatient advocate for the
Pernicious and Amused Societyand, you know, it's probably
hopefully it's going to be mynext act.
I'm going to more with them andwith that I already am kind of
like their US you know person.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Well, before we get off of this subject, I just like
to know what are the symptomsthat someone might have that
they need to look closer at this.
Good question.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, that is a great question and that's hard too
because it's kind of so manythings.
It's a neurological condition,so anything that affects your
brain, your nervous system,which includes your digestive
system and includes yourcardiovascular system, so that's
what makes it tough to diagnose.
You have symptoms head to toe.
You know everything from brainfog to tinnitus.
(10:36):
I'm just going to go down mybody to like a thickened tongue,
to like feeling like somethingstuck in your throat, to
numbness in your arms and legs,to digestive issues, and then,
as it progresses, you havetrouble walking and all this.
And mine did progress to thelevel where I do have permanent
nerve damage, but it wentuntreated for so many years even
(11:01):
though I was trying desperatelyto find out what it was.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
And when you get your blood work done, do you look at
the iron and ferritin and ironabsorption levels or it doesn't
really show there.
Do you need to get vitamin B12checked?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Yeah, and fortunately it does not show in your iron
testing, although some peoplethat is also a concern.
But yeah, you need a specificB12 test, but there's so many
problems with that test.
There's no gold standard test.
There is a specific test forthat, which is very helpful, but
it's really hard to get.
(11:37):
It's the kind of thing where,basically, if the B12 shots help
you, then you know that.
If you test positive forpernicious anemia, then you know
you have it.
If the B12 shots help you, youknow you have it.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Well, thanks for sharing that.
I mean, hopefully you know thatwill help somebody that might
be having these symptoms and arelost and don't even know about
this.
You know so, yeah, and wouldn'tknow to ask.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Yeah, I mean you can.
They can start by searching formy article.
So if they search Dana Hawkins,Simons, Wall Street Journal and
then the other thing is to goto the Pernecious Endemic
Society's website, We'll put alink in the show notes.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
It's helpful information and I'm glad that
you found what is working foryou.
So it sounds like now one ofthe things that we know that
you're involved in is with musicand also a Renaissance festival
, and we want to get to thebottom of both of these.
Tell us about the two of thesethings.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Yeah, and that you sing.
How did you first becomeinvolved or find the Montclair
early music?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I do sing.
I love to sing.
I'm a singer.
I've sung in probably a dozendifferent bands and groups.
I started a group when I livedin DC Dana and the Juke Jammers
and we played at festivals andevents and I was the lead singer
.
We did jazz and blues and popand all kinds of fun stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
And then when I worked at US News.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
We had Blues you Can Use and that was a 12-piece.
It was so much fun.
It was a 12-piece band and wehad a sax player and an
harmonica player and I was alead singer there too with two
other folks and we performed atthe White House Correspondents
Association.
We performed at different barsin DC and that was fun.
(13:16):
And then in London I sang inthe Belsize Community Choir,
which was quite lovely.
And then back in Montclair,before we left, I had sung in
Parents who Rock.
I usually would do it when Ihad the benefits of years sing
like a jazz acapella.
So the last two years Irecently joined the New Jersey
Oratory of Society.
So that's like classical musicand, oh, rachel, you should come
(13:39):
to.
We did Carmina Burana.
Oh my God, it was so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Oh, I really need to go because I have heard about it
and I've known different peoplethrough the years who have been
in it.
It's based out of Montclair.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Oh, wow.
And then the one other groupthat I'm involved in called rock
voices and they are.
That's really fun.
I just joined that over thelast spring that we have an
incredible director, Larissa J,and we perform just like pop
music covers, and and it's, it'sgreat.
It's just kind of so fun.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
First you've had such an incredible you know career
and now it seems like you you'reinvolved in so many like things
that give, give to you and likeyour, you know your talents
thanks.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, do you want to talk about montclair early music
?
Okay, so montclair early musicis a non-profit based on
montclair, started several yearsago by julianne pape.
She's a wonderful woman whorecently retired from the group,
although she still plays withus in our instrumental ensemble.
And then Medieval Fest lastyear was our first one.
(14:45):
We didn't quite know what toexpect, although I was getting
so much great response that Ikind of thought, wow, this could
be big.
Well, it was huge.
There were over 900.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Over 900 people, wow, and that's all in front of the
lawn in front of the MontclairArt Museum, right, we also had
inside the Lair Hall and we hadlike several hundred people in
there learning this incrediblefolklore dance from medieval
times.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
But it's super exciting.
I mean dance from medievaltimes, but it's super exciting.
I mean over half the people Iwould say came in costume last
year.
I sing in the quartet and youknow I'll be there in costume.
You guys, oh my God, you haveto come and come.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
We will, we do, we will, we will come and we will
take video and.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I'm excited.
I was telling Rachel that I hadbeen to a medieval festival
years ago.
I've only been to one.
People love them.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
There's an incredible one in Texas.
There's a whole documentaryabout it.
Oh, I know, did you?
Speaker 3 (15:41):
watch that documentary.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yes, I did.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Holy cow, that documentary was wild.
What is it?
What is it?
It's that one guy, that guythat did it all.
He was wild.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Wait, I need to know what this is.
Oh, rachel, I don't know, manit is.
I think it's called ren fairyes, oh, yes.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Okay, jeanette, you did tell me to watch that, oh my
god.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, it was kind of a creepy king situation.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
It is in the creepy king situation, yes, for sure.
But you know, they are really,really popular for a variety of
reasons.
I mean, you don't have to beinto Renaissance, like world, to
enjoy them, they're just, it'sjust otherworldly, definitely
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
It's a party and it ours is, very ours is.
It's like a mini.
There's the one in Tuxedo Parkthat people love, which is great
, but it's huge and it's such abig deal to get there and to be
there and it's so expensive.
It's kind of family friendlyand kind of not.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Okay, we're going to do a clip and it's going to be
fun and awesome to tell everyonewhat Medieval Fest is and why
they need to come.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Medieval Fest is Montclair's most popular summer
event.
It's Sunday, august 24th to theMontclair Art Museum.
Last year we had over 900revelers having a great time and
I would say half of them camein costume.
So don't hold back.
We have the Montclair Brewerythere with their Medieval Fest
(17:06):
Ale Mead, which is delicious.
We have all kinds of otherwonderful vendors Sankofa,
cilantro Food Truck, montclairBread Company.
We have Point 5 Jersey, whichis a new non-alcoholic beverage.
Oh yeah, they're going to bringtheir non-alcoholic beer,
cocktails, wine, adaptogens andnootropics to keep your energy
(17:29):
up for the festivities.
We have an incredible medievalreenactment group called the
Knights of Acre and they comeand they are very serious with
their historically accuratecostuming.
They do battles.
They do battle demos and playgames with the children and do
even poetry readings and thingslike that.
(17:49):
And then we have music all day.
So all afternoon we haveMontclair Early Music Ensemble
will perform.
Our children, the Dragon Bardswill perform, the seniors are in
the group called the Musettes.
We also have special guests.
The Gypsy Funk Squad is comingand we also have Avon Fair,
which is a beautiful group ofwomen who sing Celtic music.
(18:10):
We're looking for more sponsors.
We have a few.
We have Egan's and Holstein'sand Red Eye Cafe and Barbara
Eclectic, but we're looking formore sponsors, so please get in
touch if you're interested inthat.
Yeah, we're just lookingforward to a great afternoon of
family-friendly fun and bringinghistory to life in Montclair.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
I love that Sounds like a blast.
What time is it from?
It's 11 to 5.
11 to 5.
And where do people park?
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
that's up to you.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I love that.
Good luck on that.
Take your horses.
You get premier parking spotsif you take a horse and you're
historically accurate.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
The mayor came last year and she's already been
emailing me like oh, you know,I'm so excited.
Like you know, she's planningon coming again and delivering
our welcome and let me tell youyou were the most beautiful
costume last year, so I'm hopingshe I'm not surprised that
again.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I know Renee Renee Baskerville will be there, but
I'm sure a lot of people in townwill be going there.
As you said, last year therewere 900 people there and I bet
you're going to have more thisyear.
That's amazing for a first yearthat you had so many people
show up, so you must have donesome impressive marketing too.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
You hit the jackpot.
Yeah, nice job.
I really want to dressappropriately, but do I Google
what to wear Because I don'treally know?
Speaker 3 (19:38):
You could.
Oh my God, rachel.
Yes, we have to try, we do.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I'll be very understated.
I'm sure I'll be like I don'tknow if you can wear all black.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Oh yeah, you have a sword, don't you have a sword?
Speaker 3 (19:51):
in your house.
Medieval times sword story issuch a thing.
Oh my God, medieval times.
Does anybody from medievaltimes come out there?
Not that I know of, we'd loveto have them.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
You can think broadly , like you can dress like a
fairy.
You can dress to have them.
You can think broadly, like youcan dress like a fairy.
You can dress like a pirate.
You can dress like a Viking.
With some great Viking costumesyou can, you know, like the
woman who won the cost thecostume contest last year, had
these gorgeous like antlerantler head and then this big,
beautiful white dress.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
So do you have to sign up to be in the competition
?
No, how does the competitionfor the costume thing work?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
To be honest, last year it was actually as far as
the moment Because somebody hadgiven us some nice gift you know
, coffee pot or something andwe're like, well, let's give
this away.
Who are we going to give it to?
And then I said, let's have acostume contest Because we had
all these great costumes.
Let's have a costume contestbecause we had all these great
costumes.
So we just got on the mic andwe're like, okay, everybody who
wants to enter come up to thefront.
And then we had people come upto see who won and it was pretty
(20:52):
obvious that this one how fun,$100 gift card to Egan's the
winner goes.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Oh, okay, now I'm really going to try.
What year are we talking abouthere when we think in
Renaissance?
Does anybody here know, knowmedieval period?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
is considered like, I think, the 1300s, to like 1100,
to like 1500.
But you know what this is?
The thing is that there's notan exact like scholars will
differ.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Let's just say that scholars will differ yeah, I'll
figure out what the persianswere wearing around that time.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah I would love that.
And so for sponsorships, again,I'm going to put out another
play 50 get you mentioned in ourprogram and on our website.
We have different levels, allthe way up to $1,000.
And for $1,000, you can get afree concert, personal free
concert.
Oh I love that.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Well, I also want to direct people to the Montclair
Early Music website where youcould see the videos and hear it
.
I love your voice, dana, so itwas nice to like hear you
singing.
I was listening to the one atthe Montclair public library so
you can go on and see.
Just so you can get excitedhearing what you're going to be
(21:59):
able to hear and just get intoit.
Yeah, like rock out, rock outto the flute no, lute, not flute
.
Well, I want to ask, though,about the instruments, because I
was looking to see whatinstruments you know recorder,
and you have cello, I saw, butlike so what?
(22:20):
Are the different instrumentsthat are allowed for that period
are allowed for that period.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Yeah, there are a lot , a lot of options.
We I wish we had more, but wedo have some.
We do have a good base.
We have all types of recorders,so it's not just that recorder.
There's soprano, there's tenor,there's bass, there's buffoon,
there's like really huge Oneperson plays something that's
like that tall, like really big.
And then there's cello, wherewe did have a violin player.
(22:47):
We have great percussionists.
The percussion is veryimportant and we have a
percussionist, louise.
And then we also have the mostfascinating, fascinating
instrument we have is somethingcalled the hurdy-gurdy.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Oh, I've heard of the hurdy-gurdy.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Look it up.
They're beautiful.
They look kind of like a crossbetween an accordion and a
guitar maybe Only they'regorgeous wooden instruments.
We have a woman who plays itincredibly well, wow, and it's
just a great sound.
It's a great sound.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
I'm so glad that we got to talk to you and learn
about this festival and alsojust hear about your background.
You've had such an interestinglife.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
And you can come from , you know, Dodge City, Kansas.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
So speaking of that, from Kansas to Jersey, do you
have something that you wouldsay is your favorite thing about
living in New Jersey?
I love Montclair and I love.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Jersey.
Who knew right.
I grew up thinking that way.
I love nature, so I love thingslike Duke's Farm, if you
haven't been there.
I love all the gardens.
I love the Iris Garden.
I love Van Fleck.
I love her sculpture.
I love you know all thatLongwood.
I also love going to Princetonit's such a beautiful, fun town
(24:01):
and the museums there and theNewark and Newark.
I'd love to go to Newarkdowntown.
There's so many coffee shopsand restaurants and the Newark
museum.
And in Montclair.
Can I name a few of my favoriterestaurants?
Of course I love the brewery.
Of course I love Sankofa cafe.
I also love the new cafe calledskip to my brew on.
Oh my God, you have to go.
(24:22):
It's adorable.
It's so beautifully decoratedand they have lattes.
I love Ube and just adore Udecorated and they have Ube
lattes.
I love Ube, I just adore Ube,so they have Ube lattes.
I also love Zubma.
I love Marcel's, I love Le SoukMercado, samba.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
You're just naming off restaurants at this point
You're naming off every placethere is.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
And we're going to have the longest link tree for
Dana's episode and we're goingto have the longest link tree
for Dana's episode.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
I remember creating a reel for Paper Plane and then I
just faded it out.
He just kept naming places andI was just like just go to our
webpage.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
My goal is that when people talk about all the great
festivals in Montclair the filmfestival, the literary festival
what's the other great festival?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
The Jazz Festival.
Jazz Festival, yeah you haveamazing festivals, guess what
the Gay?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Pride Festival, gay Pride Festival.
We also have Medieval Festival.
I think we have earned it.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I think we belong in that pantheon of amazing
Montclair festivals, I feel likeyou're way on already on the, I
mean to kick it off with 900,your very first time out and
Rachel think about joining us onyour violin.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
We would love to have them.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Oh, okay, oh, but violins, when were they invented
?
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I should probably know that we're trying to get
the mayor to you know she playscello.
Did she tell you that?
No, she didn't tell us that Itold her step in.
Anytime join us.
You know, just jump in.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Well, this has been great.
I'm so glad, so nice to meetyou and I'm looking forward to
seeing you at the festival.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Thank you so much.
This is a pleasure to be herewith you.
Wonderful ladies, I reallyadmire what you've done with
this.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You're doing an incredible job.
I mean, I love it.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Thank you.
This podcast was produced byRachel Martens and Jeanette
Afsharian.
You can find us on Spotify,itunes and Buzzsprout.
Thanks for listening.
See you next week.
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