Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein

Ron Klopfanstein
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Ron Klopfanstein spotlights writers, actors, musicians, artists, performers, podcasters, influencers, journalists, and other content creators and talks to them about their work, inspiration, and passion for art, media, and popular culture. Hot Seat: Media Monday is broadcast live on 95.5 FM "The Heat" Utica Phoenix Radio every Monday at 5 pm

  1. S2:E35 | Pride Month, Ukulele, the Spring Woods Mystery & AI

    4d ago

    S2:E35 | Pride Month, Ukulele, the Spring Woods Mystery & AI

    Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o3OVMLZ-TqE This week’s episode brings together Pride Month, local history, original music, and a big-picture conversation about artificial intelligence, robotics, and the future. Ron opens the show with Ace Morreale of the Oneida County Pride Alliance for a conversation about Pride Month events across Oneida County, including the Oneida County Pride Festival at the Clinton Arena, Pride social events, Rainbow Prom at Jervis Public Library, the Stonewall anniversary event, and the importance of LGBTQIA+ visibility at a time when rights and representation remain under pressure. The episode also features musical guest Millie Szmurlo, who performs original songs on ukulele, including “The Friends Song,” “The Crow,” and “Mr. Moneybags.” Ron also heads into the Spring Woods in Westmoreland for a personal local-history feature, searching for the long-lost spring his family had talked about for generations — and, with help from historian Victor Edick and research from Sheila Hoffman, finally finds it. In the final segment, Ron talks with James Nason, who describes himself as a “scientist of life,” about robotics, artificial intelligence, androids, education, the singularity, and what rapid advances in AI could mean for jobs, medicine, and the future of human life.

    54 min
  2. S2:E34 | Juror Speaks on Mid-State Beating Death Case, Real People, Real Lives Podcaster Sandy Silverstein, Westmoreland Heroes & JavaScript Game Camp

    May 21

    S2:E34 | Juror Speaks on Mid-State Beating Death Case, Real People, Real Lives Podcaster Sandy Silverstein, Westmoreland Heroes & JavaScript Game Camp

    This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday 🔥 An exclusive interview with a juror from the Mid-State Correctional Facility beating death case. Plus: Real People Real Lives Podcast, Westmoreland’s Hometown Heroes, and a JavaScript Game Development Camp for students. Watch the full episode now. #HotSeatMediaMonday #MediaMonday #UticaNY #MohawkValley #LocalNews #CommunityStories

    53 min
  3. Pete Colter, Summer Movies, AAPI Celebration & Free Comic Book Day | Hot Seat: Media Monday S2:E33

    May 13

    Pete Colter, Summer Movies, AAPI Celebration & Free Comic Book Day | Hot Seat: Media Monday S2:E33

    This week’s Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥 brings together community, culture, comics, summer movies, horror, and creativity. We open with a feature story from the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration at Parkway Recreation Center, hosted by the Midtown Utica Community Center. It was a beautiful celebration of food, music, dance, family, culture, and tradition — with performance videos courtesy of Brian Lazore and Lazore Photography. Then 95.5 FM Entertainment Correspondent Nabil Khan joins me for a summer entertainment preview, including the big movies coming this season, the return of horror as a major box-office force, parody comedy, IMAX controversies, streaming, and what audiences are looking for now. We also visit Free Comic Book Day, where comic fans, families, collectors, and readers came together to celebrate imagination, art, storytelling, and the joy of reading. Then I sit down with Pete Colter, author and multimedia content creator, for a candid conversation about his latest projects, filmmaking, writing, career momentum, agents, networking, supporting other artists, and what it takes to keep creating while building a life in entertainment. This episode covers a lot — but the thread running through all of it is storytelling: cultural stories, comic book stories, movie stories, and the personal stories that shape creative work. Chapters:00:00 — Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month07:12 — Cultural Connections and Keeping Traditions Alive14:07 — Summer Blockbusters and Big Releases18:01 — Horror Films and a Year of Thrills24:04 — Comedy, Commentary, and Parody Films26:44 — Upcoming Movies and the IMAX Conversation33:48 — Free Comic Book Day37:23 — Pete Colter’s Creative Journey46:57 — Navigating the Entertainment Industry 📻 Hot Seat: Media Monday airs Mondays at 5 PM on 95.5 FM The Heat🌐 Stream live at 955TheHeat.com📺 Watch the live feed on my Facebook page More ways to watch/listen:🎧 Spotify: [add link]🎧 Apple Podcasts: [add link]🎧 iHeart: [add link]▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/gGDDIFctYLk?si=pQ0E9VxAa2cANDnp #MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday #955TheHeat #UticaNY #AAPIHeritageMonth #FreeComicBookDay #PeteColter #SummerMovies #HorrorMovies #PopCulture

    55 min
  4. S2:E32 — Catstock 6, CFLR Open Mic, Workers Over Billionaires & Biker Brotherhood

    May 6

    S2:E32 — Catstock 6, CFLR Open Mic, Workers Over Billionaires & Biker Brotherhood

    Hot Seat: Media Monday S2:E32 — Catstock 6, May Day, CFLR Open Mic & Biker Brotherhood 🎥 Watch the full show here:https://youtu.be/2xuypWbh4vg This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥, we bring together music, animal rescue, workers’ rights, recovery, motorcycle culture, and community. We open the show with John Chesebro, who previews Catstock 6, a major local fundraiser built around music, food, vendors, raffles, family activities, and support for groups working to help stray, feral, and abandoned cats. John talks about how the event has grown from a small idea in 2021 into a full-day gathering with bands, acoustic acts, crafters, food vendors, adoptable cats, and community partners working to slow down the growth of local cat colonies. Next, we feature our news story on May Day 2026: Workers Over Billionaires, where local organizers, workers, artists, and neighbors gathered in Utica as part of a national call for workers’ rights, immigrant protections, economic justice, and people over billionaire power. The story includes voices from Citizen Action of New York, local organizers, and Jonathan Brooks, DJ J Easy, who talks about the role music can play in spreading messages of solidarity and hope. Then Ron is joined in studio by John “Cowboy” Bourbon from the Unpunished Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, along with frequent guest and biker Dave Paul, for a conversation about motorcycle culture, brotherhood, charity rides, defensive riding, and the deeper sense of freedom and focus that comes from life on two wheels. Cowboy describes riding as “wind therapy,” while Dave explains the awareness, risk, and physical connection that come with being on a motorcycle. In the second half of the show, Photojournalist and AI Content Producer Jim Hale and Ron visit The Center for Family Life and Recovery for the one-year anniversary of its monthly Open Mic nights. The story highlights music, poetry, performance, grief, healing, recovery, and connection — including organizer Matthew Cushman’s powerful reminder that “sobriety isn’t the opposite of addiction. Connection is.” The episode also continues the conversation with Cowboy and Dave, including more about the Unpunished LEMC, its “we before me” philosophy, the national and international reach of the club, and the way motorcycle communities build family through service, loyalty, and shared purpose. This episode also includes recognition from the Syracuse Press Club Awards, where Ron took second place for Best Interview for his original interview with a family separated by ICE, and Jim Hale and Ron received honorable mention for their coverage of transgender rights issues. Featured in this episode: John Chesebro previewing Catstock 6 May Day 2026: Workers Over Billionaires John “Cowboy” Bourbon, Unpunished Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Dave Paul Center for Family Life and Recovery Open Mic one-year anniversary Syracuse Press Club Awards recognition Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥📻 95.5 FM💻 955TheHeat.com📺 Facebook Live🎥 YouTube🎧 Podcast platforms #MeetMeInTheHotSeat#MediaMonday👍😎

    52 min
  5. S2:E31 — #BrettStrong, Grief & Healing, Children’s Science Books, and Grace Church’s Henry Holiday Windows

    Apr 30

    S2:E31 — #BrettStrong, Grief & Healing, Children’s Science Books, and Grace Church’s Henry Holiday Windows

    This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥, we explore resilience, grief, faith, history, science, creativity, and the power of sharing our stories. We begin at Grace Episcopal Church in Utica with a feature story on its rare Henry Holiday stained glass windows — priceless works of art connected to Helen Munson Williams and her daughters, Rachel Munson Williams Proctor and Maria Watson Williams Proctor, whose philanthropy helped shape Utica’s cultural foundation. Then Becky Nemo joins Ron to talk about #BrettStrong, her son Brett Sutton’s serious illness, and how social media has helped rally love, prayers, cards, donations, and community support around him and his family. Colleen Campbell shares a deeply moving conversation about losing her husband Alistair to glioblastoma, raising children through grief, and using Facebook to write honestly about loss, love, memory, and survival. And Moe and Sarah Lalonde, retired science teachers and children’s book authors, talk about Meet the Germs, The Germ Files, teaching, STEM, lesson planning, art, retirement, and keeping a sense of wonder alive. It’s a powerful episode about how stories help us survive, connect, remember, teach, and keep going. #MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday

    53 min
  6. A.S. Galbraith, 4/20 at Puff Theory, and Dan Clark on Trauma, Healing, and Survival S2:E30

    Apr 22

    A.S. Galbraith, 4/20 at Puff Theory, and Dan Clark on Trauma, Healing, and Survival S2:E30

    This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥, we move from myth and identity, to 4/20 community culture, to a deeply powerful conversation about trauma, healing, and survival. We begin with writer A.S. Galbraith, whose work explores fairy tale, folklore, queerness, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and life at the margins. We talk about why ancient stories still resonate, how fairy tales can be rewritten to include people too often left out, and how finding language for identity can transform both a life and a body of work. Then 95.5 FM The Heat CEO Cassandra Harris-Lockwood, Photojournalist and AI Content Producer Jim Hale, and I head to Puff Theory Cannabis for a special 4/20 feature story. We talk with owners, vendors, and community members about celebration, education, cannabis wellness, freedom, and the changing culture around marijuana right here in our community. Later in the show, Dan Clark joins me in studio for a raw and powerful conversation about military service, firefighting, toxic workplace culture, survival, suicide prevention, plant medicine, breath work, and the search for healing for veterans, first responders, educators, and others carrying enormous pressure.

    52 min
  7. Podcaster Glo, Armada, United Way Awards, & Nick Phillips' RSI Award; Hot Seat: Media Monday; S2:E29

    Apr 16

    Podcaster Glo, Armada, United Way Awards, & Nick Phillips' RSI Award; Hot Seat: Media Monday; S2:E29

    This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥, we bring you a show packed with creativity, community impact, and local achievement.First, Photojournalist and AI Content Producer Jim Hale, Associate Producer Nick Phillips, and I take you to Utica University for a look at Armada, an early modern swashbuckling stage combat spectacle written and directed by Jim Drake. Then Cassandra Garcia from United Way of the Mohawk Valley joins us in studio to talk about the upcoming Impact Award Honoree Breakfast, the organization’s work across our region, and why celebrating leadership and service matters. Next, podcaster Glo stops by to discuss his show Welcome to the Trap, his passion for spotlighting underground artists, and the importance of building platforms for independent voices. Finally, we turn the spotlight on one of our own as Associate Producer Nick Phillips talks about winning an award from the Raymond Simon Institute at Utica University and his growth as a writer, broadcaster, and young journalist.Full show online tonight at 9 PM at UticaPhoenix.net/MediaMonday#MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday 👍😎

    54 min
  8. Cassandra Harris Lockwood, Utica Zoo & Morrow Warming Center | Hot Seat: Media Monday S2:E28

    Apr 9

    Cassandra Harris Lockwood, Utica Zoo & Morrow Warming Center | Hot Seat: Media Monday S2:E28

    This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein on 95.5 FM The Heat 🔥, we bring you a powerful episode about leadership, service, joy, and human dignity. First, I sit down with Cassandra Harris Lockwood — owner of 95.5 FM The Heat, CEO of For The Good Inc., longtime activist, artist, journalist, and community leader — to talk about her life, her work, and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. We also take you to the Utica Zoo’s Eggstravaganza, where Associate Producer Lily Christopher and I talked with families, organizers, and performers during one of the zoo’s signature spring events. Then in our final segment, Associate Producer Lily Christopher, Photojournalist and AI Content Producer Jim Hale, and I bring you a moving report from the Morrow Warming Center in Utica, where JWatch’s April Fools-themed show offered music, encouragement, and something even deeper: a reminder that people going through hardship still deserve to be seen, heard, and understood.

    52 min
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About

Ron Klopfanstein spotlights writers, actors, musicians, artists, performers, podcasters, influencers, journalists, and other content creators and talks to them about their work, inspiration, and passion for art, media, and popular culture. Hot Seat: Media Monday is broadcast live on 95.5 FM "The Heat" Utica Phoenix Radio every Monday at 5 pm

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Klopfanstein
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ron Klopfanstein