Hudson Valley Unleashed

Hudson Valley Unleashed

A Chef and a DJ go looking for the soul of the Hudson Valley. Hudson Valley Unleashed isn’t just stories — it’s a front-row seat to the people who give this place its pulse: local icons, renegade artists, reclusive legends, wild-eyed dreamers, and neighbors who casually changed the world. It’s part interview, part kitchen-table therapy, part back-porch happy hour — and always just a little... Unleashed.

  1. JAN 21

    Lorraine Toussaint: Love Hard, Live Loud

    Lorraine Toussaint is the kind of guest who makes time slow down and the truth get loud. You know her as Aunt Vi on The Equalizer, Vee on Orange Is the New Black, and the unforgettable Cressida in Into the Badlands, but in this episode Lorraine goes way beyond the roles. She talks about growing up in Trinidad, moving to Brooklyn, the High School of Performing Arts, and Juilliard, plus the wild moment her real-life story ended up shaping Fame. We get into motherhood, single parenting on set, and what it means to raise a child with authenticity at the center. Then the conversation turns deep, fast: spirituality, fear, division, and Lorraine’s reminder that love is not soft, it’s a practice, and sometimes it’s a weapon. We also talk Hudson Valley life, Omega Institute energy, planting trees, growing food, finding stillness, and why she comes “home” when she’s upstate.

    40 min

  2. 12/30/2025

    Create Happiness: Chef Ric Orlando’s Only Rule

    Chef Ric Orlando joins Hudson Valley Unleashed for a loud, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt hang—because of course it is when you put a chef, a DJ, and a longtime Hudson Valley icon at the same kitchen table. Josh and Dave go way back with Ric: from the early, chaotic glory days of New World Home Cooking (including those legendary Halloween parties) to the reality of building restaurants that feel like community—not just a place to eat. Ric talks about learning the craft in Boston at the legendary Harvest, cooking for Julia Child, and why the simplest food often hits the hardest. Then we get into what he’s doing now: consulting gigs where he walks into kitchens and politely (or not) drags standards back to Earth, high-energy cooking classes that are basically performance art, pop-up dinners, sauces and spice rubs, and most notably his chef-driven Sicily and Italy tours that trade “see a church, eat pasta, goodbye” for real people, real stories, and the kind of meals you remember forever. Also yes: he beat Bobby Flay. We had to say it. New episode drops Tuesdays. Stay unleashed.

    50 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    Boujee, Ballsey, and Barely Behaved: Jen C Takes over HV Unleashed

    Jen C (Jennifer Ciota) storms into the studio and absolutely detonates the place. From cow-farm life and Rhinebeck gossip to OnlyFans brainstorms, Colombian identity, white-people problems, and who in town she’d definitely sleep with—nothing is off limits. Josh almost gets recruited into porn, Dave gets propositioned, and the Hudson Valley gets roasted.This is the episode that proves why we call the show Unleashed.

    43 min

  4. 11/11/2025

    From WDST to Sheroes: Carmel Holt Turns Conversation into Culture

    Today we welcome family: broadcaster, musician, and champion of women and gender-expansive artists, Carmel Holt. Carmel traces her path from Bard College and the early Hudson Valley days—writing copy at WDST, landing “Acoustic Breakfast,” and becoming Music Director—to the leap to WFUV and the mentorship of the legendary Rita Houston. She opens up about why she left the security of radio to build Sheroes, the acclaimed show and podcast where artists actually tell the whole story, and how a pandemic pivot led to syndication on public radio and a Webby-nominated Sonos series (Mixtape Memoir). We also get the inside track on her ambitious multimedia project, The Road to Joni, celebrating Joni Mitchell through the voices of multiple generations. Plus: Kingston memories (yes, gigs at La Parmigiana before it became Terrapin), Poets’ Walk love, O+ Festival shout-out, and a candid look at sustaining independent media—now supported via fiscal sponsorship with AIR. If you care about music, mentorship, and making real space for artists, this one’s for you.

    45 min

  5. 10/16/2025

    From Canal House to World Class Wine Educator: Kevin Zraly

    Kevin Zraly wrote the wine book that taught the world to drink with joy—Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, now over 3 million copies sold. His story is rooted in the Hudson Valley, with Sunday magic at the Canal House and John Novi, the farm-to-table pioneer who lit the spark. In this episode, Kevin traces an incredible arc—from High Falls to the 107th floor—why fearless hospitality matters, how wine became conversation for everyone, and the truth that the best bottle is the one that brings your people together. A heartfelt toast to Novi, a love letter to the Valley, and a masterclass from the man who opened the door for millions.

    39 min
  6. Folk, Funk, & the Woodstock Way: Simi Stone

    09/30/2025

    Folk, Funk, & the Woodstock Way: Simi Stone

    Simi Stone is a singer, songwriter, violinist, and visual artist rooted in Woodstock, NY—and a beacon of the Hudson Valley’s creative spirit. In this episode, Simi sits down with us to talk about building a life in art: how voice and violin found each other, what it means to perform with heart (not ego), the discipline behind joy, and why community is the real amplifier.

    26 min

  7. 09/16/2025

    Spinning Records & Carving Lines: MK Scully - WKZE DJ

    Hudson Valley Unleashed sits down with MK Scully — WKZE afternoon host, wedding DJ, bandleader, skier, and certified Renaissance woman. She’s the diplomat of vibes, equally at home keeping uncles and hipsters on the same dance floor, bombing black diamonds at Belleayre, or fronting her tongue-in-cheek band Trailer Swift. We dig into why human-curated radio still matters in the age of algorithms, the high-pressure joys of wedding DJ life, Kingston’s shifting culture, and how skiing became her true north. Along the way: brass bands, new disco obsessions, chaotic wedding stories, and even a peek at the Hudson Valley novel she’s writing. It’s part interview, part kitchen-table therapy, part après-ski happy hour — and all unleashed.

    35 min

  8. 09/02/2025

    Art That Refuses to Behave: Norm Magnusson

    This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed, Chef Josh Kroner and DJ Dave Leonard sit down with Hudson Valley’s own Renaissance man, Norm Magnusson. Norm is a visual artist, political activist, actor, scratch golfer, and the founder of Funism—an art movement built on humor, accessibility, and social commentary. From his allegorical animal paintings to the viral “historical markers” that stop people in their tracks, Norm has spent decades creating art that sparks curiosity and conversation. We dive into his evolution from Madison Avenue ad man to full-time artist, why he believes art should invite interpretation instead of shutting people out, and how his work reflects both his playful spirit and his serious commitment to activism. Along the way, there are martinis, bucket hats, Gilligan references, and stories that reveal how one man can help shape the cultural soul of the Hudson Valley.

    37 min
See All (17)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

A Chef and a DJ go looking for the soul of the Hudson Valley. Hudson Valley Unleashed isn’t just stories — it’s a front-row seat to the people who give this place its pulse: local icons, renegade artists, reclusive legends, wild-eyed dreamers, and neighbors who casually changed the world. It’s part interview, part kitchen-table therapy, part back-porch happy hour — and always just a little... Unleashed.

Information

  • Creator
    Hudson Valley Unleashed
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hudson Valley Unleashed
  • Show Website
    Hudson Valley Unleashed