The Montclair Pod

Spring break is over and we have stories.

In this episode of The Montclair Pod, Farnoosh and Mike recap their very different getaways. From delayed flights and unforgettable meals in Los Angeles to a low-key beach escape in Miami, it is a tale of two trips and a reminder that sometimes the best part of traveling is coming home.

Then, we shift gears and head into town for a spring shopping adventure with The Montclairnista, We...

Happy Spring Break, Montclair. While Mike and Farnoosh are away, we are opening the archives to revisit two significant segments that explore the unique history and the evolving economy of our town.

This special compilation includes a deep dive into the Magnet School Explainer and an update on the local cannabis industry with Genuine Grow.

Segment 1: The Magnet School Explainer

Montclair’s school system is unique and ...

Are you feeling "squeezed"? This week, we’re tackling the "Sandwich Generation"—that unique, often exhausting stage of life where you’re simultaneously caring for aging parents and raising young children. We’re joined by Senator Andrew Kim, who shares his firsthand experience navigating his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis while parenting two young boys.

We also bring in the experts: Elder Law attorney Laurie Hauptman gives us the...

In a candid sit-down interview, Montclair Public Schools Superintendent Ruth B. Turner joins us for the first installment of a new series we’re calling “Supper with the Super.” Over pizza and pasta at Italiana by Zod, we talk about the controversial school referendum, the district’s financial challenges, a potential school “reinvestment”, and what comes next for families, students, and taxpayers.

We also share Part Two of our in...

This week on The Montclair Pod, we bring you one of our most important episodes yet.

We tackle a deeply emotional and urgent issue: street safety. NPR's David Folkenflik joins us to share the heartbreaking story of losing his mother to a preventable traffic collision right outside his Upper Montclair home, followed by a conversation with Montclair’s new Complete Streets Director, Jacob Nieman. Then we sit down with Senator Cory ...

With the high-stakes school vote looming—or maybe not, thanks to a new lawsuit—we sit down with New York Magazine journalist Andrew Rice to figure out exactly where the school district's money went. We also talk a bit about local news collaboration and why it benefits everyone. Plus, a heartbreaking preview of next week's street safety episode with NPR's David Folkenflik, and a packed local news roundup.

The "Missing" Money:...

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This week, so much is in flux.

First, Mike has to face the music after literally falling asleep at a recent Town Hall meeting. He also issues a formal apology to the MSU Men’s Basketball team for jinxing their perfect season.

But it’s not all fun and games—we get down to serious business with three major interviews. Superintendent Dr. Ruth Turner invites us into her office to discus...

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This week, we welcome back Township Manager Stephen Marks to discuss how the town might intervene in the school budget crisis and the latest on Lackawanna Plaza. Then, we take a trip back in time with Lonnie Brandon—historian, former Parks & Rec director, and Montclair High football alum—who shares a powerful story from the 1960s involving legendary coach Clary Anderson.

We also co...

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Montclair is freezing - literally and politically.

This week, Mike and Farnoosh break down the surprise NJ-11 primary win by Analila Mejia, and take a deep dive into growing immigration fears across Montclair. Immigration law expert Dr. Jackie Vimo, a professor at Montclair State University, joins the show, alongside local leaders Masiel Rodriguez-Vars, President of the Montclair Fund for Educa...

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In this episode, Farnoosh reports from a packed preschool info session at the Montclair Public Library, where parents of young children are weighing rising pre-K costs, the Mini Mounties lottery, and what comes next for kindergarten and beyond.

We hear directly from families, admissions leaders, and new data showing a surge in interest from Montclair residents exploring private and alternative school...

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This week on the Montclair Pod, Mike and Farnoosh are back to tackle the snowy aftermath and a whirlwind of local news. From the high stakes of the NJ-11 Special Primary—where a crowded field of 12 candidates is vying for your vote—to the sugar-fueled controversy of "Slushiegate" in our school cafeterias, we’re covering the stories that have the town talking. Grab your coffee (or a Walking Taco) and set...

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This episode of The Montclair Pod moves between local crisis and statewide context.

School Budget Crises: Montclair and Hackensack

We dig into the growing reality that Montclair is not alone in facing financial trouble in its school district. We look closely at what’s unfolding in Hackensack, where an independent audit revealed a staggering $15 million budget deficit, prompting lawsuits against former...

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Following last week’s episode on the origins of the magnet system, we pick up the conversation at a critical crossroads—one where values, finances, and state oversight collide. We attend the latest school budget town hall, where Superintendent Ruth B. Turner and district leaders lay out the long road ahead, explain the district’s structural deficit, and address growing anxiety around the possibility of ...

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Montclair has long defined itself by its district-wide magnet system—a model built on choice, diversity, and integration by design. But today, that system is under unprecedented strain. Facing a $20 million budget deficit and rising transportation costs, Mike and Farnoosh go back in time to explore the system's roots in activism and legal battles, while asking hard questions about its future. Is the pro...

Happy New Year, Montclair! This week, we replay one of our hottest shows from 2025 that may inspire new connections in 2026 -- our field guide on modern love in Montclair.

Featuring insights from:

• Junie Moon, relationship expert and Montclair’s own love coach
• Elizabeth and Jason, single parents share their experiences dating in Montclair
• Grace L. Williams, journalist and Montclair Pod special assignment reporter
• Mishiko Pass...

This week on The Montclair Pod, we revisit one of the most consequential and talked-about episodes of the year: a deeply reported look at homelessness in Montclair and the growing tension between compassion, public safety, and limited resources. As rents rise and safety-net funding faces new pressures, this episode asks a hard but necessary question: what kind of town do we want to be—and what kind of town can we realistically be?

It’s the season of giving, and this week on The Montclair Pod we step away from school budgets and deficits to focus on something just as important: how we show up for each other. From financial support to time, attention, and presence, this episode explores what meaningful giving looks like in Montclair and why generosity doesn’t have to feel heavy, performative, or transactional.

We’re joined by Ray Graj, co-founder of Montcla...

Why is Montclair nearly 20 million dollars in the red, and how did no one stop it? This week, we peel back the curtain on one of the most consequential crises the town has ever faced, examining how years of rising costs, missed warning signs, and avoided hard decisions brought the school district to this moment.

We also break down:

• The Superior Court ruling that invalidated the December 9 special election, the superintenden...

Why doesn’t Montclair have any legal weed stores? This week on The Montclair Pod, we tackle a question that has floated around town for years, with a deep look at Montclair’s cannabis landscape, tracing how a town that once hosted New Jersey’s first medical dispensary now has zero open shops. Farnoosh and Mike walk through the long, complicated road to legalization in New Jersey, the zoning bottlenecks in Montclair, and the Catch-2...