Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast

Silver Hollow Audio
  • 4.9 (54)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast is a biweekly series featuring Catskills culture, history, sustainability, local interviews, literature, and the arts. Shows are hosted by Brett Barry and produced by Silver Hollow Audio, in the heart of the Catskills. Subscribe and experience what reviewers have called “delightfully informative” storytelling with “great production quality.” Voted “Best Regional Podcast” three years in a row. Episode archives, transcripts, and a robust search engine at kaatscast.com. Enjoy!

  1. Going With the Flow: Dany Davis, Catskill Streams, and the Long Way Home

    12H AGO

    Going With the Flow: Dany Davis, Catskill Streams, and the Long Way Home

    After nearly 30 years wading Catskill streams, Dany Davis has learned that rivers don't just carry water — they carry time, memory, and if you're paying close enough attention, a few life lessons too. Now retiring as Stream Studies Coordinator for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Dany is heading home to Alaska, and he sat down with us to reflect on what the streams gave back. On the banks of Warner Creek in Chichester, the conversation turns to geology, glaciers, and the surprisingly personal lessons a river can teach you. We trace the story of the Catskills from ancient Devonian forests to the last ice age to today's turbidity monitoring network. Dany also reflects on a life shaped by curiosity, transition, and the concept of connectivity that runs through both rivers and human community. In this episode: How streams literally carved the Catskill MountainsThe 380-million-year-old river sand beneath your feetWhy Stony Clove Creek became the focus of New York City's water quality researchWhat turbidity has to do with glacial legacy sedimentDany's personal journey through gender transition — and finding equilibriumWhat yellow birch trees mean to a retiring geologistThe "Rondout to Resurrection" road trip through seven river basins on the way home to AlaskaWant to dial in to your own neighborhood stream? Head over to the USGS Water Dashboard for real time data!

    48 min
  2. Pine Hill Community Center: 25 Years of Showing Up for Each Other

    APR 21

    Pine Hill Community Center: 25 Years of Showing Up for Each Other

    For a hamlet of just a few hundred people, Pine Hill punches well above its weight. This week, Brett Barry visits the Pine Hill Community Center to mark its 25th anniversary — and to find out what it actually takes to keep a place like this alive. The center's origin story is equal parts heartbreak and generosity. In 2000, a tragedy in the community prompted founders Florence and Bernie Hamling to transform Bernie's research and development space into somewhere people could simply come together. Twenty-five years later, it offers pottery classes, concerts, art exhibitions, a wellness program, a farmers market, a thrift shop, youth programs, and a weekly social circle — all out of a former eyeglass factory that was once a gas station. Director Colleen McMurray, who joined during the pandemic amid an ongoing renovation, walks us through the building and breaks down how the center sustains itself: a mix of private donations, grant funding (including a state grant secured in 2023), and a remarkably productive thrift shop managed by volunteer Berns Rothchild. Also featured: how the community itself has shaped nearly every program the center offers, what's coming next (a dementia social program, a second-floor expansion, and an elevator), and why Florence thinks other small towns struggle to replicate what Pine Hill has built. More info and program schedules: pinehillcommunitycenter.org Recorded by production intern Sierra DeVito. Transcripts by Jerome Kazlauskas. Kaatscast is a production of Silver Hollow Audio.

    23 min
  3. Rooted in the Forest: Anna Plattner and Justin Wexler of Wild Hudson Valley

    APR 7

    Rooted in the Forest: Anna Plattner and Justin Wexler of Wild Hudson Valley

    Brett Barry visits Anna Plattner and Justin Wexler at their 95-acre forest farm in Cairo, New York, home base of Wild Hudson Valley — an educational organization dedicated to inspiring learning and building connection through shared experiences in nature, history, and wild foods. Justin and Anna trace the origins of Wild Hudson Valley back to 2013, when Justin, freshly burned out from a master's in teaching at Bard College, found his way back to the woods and a fledgling idea for an environmental education business. A serendipitous encounter at a master naturalist training program brought Anna into the picture, and the two have been growing Wild Hudson Valley together — personally and professionally — ever since. In 2021, they took the leap to pursue it full-time, greatly expanding their offerings to include eco camping, foraging workshops, and the Wild Harvest Box, a monthly subscription of wild-harvested ingredients for adventurous home cooks. The conversation covers a rich range of topics: the history and cultivation of American ginseng (the plant that first brought them together), the ecology of forest farming and why it requires so much more than just planting things and walking away, the role of invasive species and deer in disrupting native plant communities, and the concept of ecoliteracy — the ability to truly read a landscape. We also draw some fascinating connections between the work of 18th-century botanist John Bartram and what Wild Hudson Valley does today, from "boxes" of natural specimens to a deep respect for indigenous plant knowledge. Brett, Justin, and Anna also dig into some of the surprising edibles hiding in plain sight — stinging nettles more nutritious than spinach, common milkweed with more uses than most people imagine, and sumac cones their kids lick like lollipops. And they share the quiet but meaningful work of hosting Lenape and Mohican people on ancestral homeland visits to the Catskills and Hudson Valley — a practice rooted in gratitude and reciprocity.  For information about Wild Hudson Valley's eco camp, foraging workshops, the Wild Harvest Box, and property consultations, visit wildhudsonvalley.com. And to hear a fun podcast about the life of John Bartram, check out Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, episode 115: John Bartram.  Kaatscast is a production of Silver Hollow Audio. Find us at kaatscast.com and on Instagram @kaatscast. Production intern: Sierra DeVito. Transcriptionist: Jerome Kazlauskas.

    44 min
  4. The Last Mile: Saving Pine Hill's Wellington Hotel

    MAR 24

    The Last Mile: Saving Pine Hill's Wellington Hotel

    In this episode, host Brett Barry joins Jan Jaffe, board president of Wellington Blueberry LLC, outside the shuttered Wellington Hotel on Main Street in Pine Hill, New York — a 12,000-square-foot, 19th-century landmark and one of the few remaining intact Catskill hotels that survived the era's notorious fires. Jan shares the origin story of this ambitious community-driven project: how roughly 20 neighbors pooled resources in the fall of 2022 to purchase the long-vacant building. Their goal: rehabilitate the historic structure into 10 units of workforce housing (studios and one-bedrooms targeted at residents earning 60–80% of area median income) and a much-needed community grocery store. Four years in, Wellington Blueberry has made remarkable pre-construction progress — clearing 60 dumpsters of debris, completing environmental review, obtaining all necessary permits, securing a letter of intent from Bank of America for historic tax credits, and earning a 2025 designation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Their developer and construction manager is RUPCO, the region's leading nonprofit housing developer, and their architects are Albany preservation firm Thaler Riley Wilson. But they're still at "the last mile" — approximately $1 million short of the full funding needed to break ground. Topics covered: What workforce housing means and who it's designed to helpHow historic tax credits work and why they matter for this projectThe "Dagwood sandwich" of layered funding sources (grants from Restore NY, Ulster County, anonymous donors, and more)What the community has already accomplished — including two volunteer clean-up events with 40 people eachPlans for a local grocery store serving both residents and visitorsHow prospective tenants will eventually apply via lotteryTo learn more or donate, visit pinehillwellington.com. Donations can currently be made through RUPCO's website.

    25 min
  5. Hoppy Quick: Carving Bears and Living at a Higher Frequency

    MAR 10

    Hoppy Quick: Carving Bears and Living at a Higher Frequency

    Hoppy Quick has been chainsaw carving bears in the Catskills since 1979 — but he'll tell you he's not an artist. He's a spiritual being who found himself through the bear. In this wide-ranging conversation, we visit Hoppy at his home in Samsonville — a converted 1951 school bus, a canvas teepee workshop, a crackling fire ring, and a horse named Ginny — and quickly discover that a conversation about whittling wood leads somewhere much deeper. We talk about his 47-year search for the perfect bear face, carving as meditation, and what it means to live in grace. Hoppy shares the story behind the Heart Tribe, his COVID-era community of tens of thousands, and reflects on ego, fear, the divine feminine, AI, and why he believes the path forward is exactly 16 inches — from your head to your heart. As the world seems to be straining at its seams, Hoppy emerges like a bear from the tree line — unexpected, unhurried, and offering a wise and grounding call to our higher selves.

    50 min
  6. Songs from the Woods: Steve Koester of Two Dark Birds

    FEB 24

    Songs from the Woods: Steve Koester of Two Dark Birds

    Singer‑songwriter Steve Koester, the creative force behind Two Dark Birds, joins Brett in the Kaatscast studio for a deep, generous conversation about songwriting, place, and the long arc of making music in the Catskills. With the band’s fifth studio album, Dreamers of the Golden Dream, Vol. 1, arriving February 27, Steve reflects on the evolution of his sound—from full‑band records to quiet, introspective work and back again—and how living in the mountains continues to shape his writing. Steve shares the origin story of Two Dark Birds, the move from New York City to the Catskills, the band’s shifting lineup, and the role of analog recording in a digital world. He talks about the emotional terrain behind songs like “Born to Fall,” “Good Boy Good,” and “Kid, I’m Fried,” and performs several tracks live in the studio. The conversation also explores the realities of releasing music in 2026, the joys and limits of streaming platforms, the resurgence of vinyl, and the creation of Steve’s independent label, Vfib Records.  Music Featured “Born to Fall” — live in studio “Good Boy Good” — from Dreamers of the Golden Dream, Vol. 1 “Kid, I’m Fried” — live in studio “Girl of Summer” — album track (closing) Links & Resources Two Dark Birds — ⁠⁠https://twodarkbirds.com⁠⁠ Vfib Recordings — ⁠⁠https://www.vfibrecordings.com⁠⁠ The Woods Studio (Todd Adelman) — ⁠⁠https://thewoods.studio⁠⁠ Bearsville Theater — ⁠⁠https://bearsvilletheater.com⁠⁠ Photo credit: Sam Erickson

    43 min
  7. Tasting Italy with Pogliani Select, Purveyors of Olive Oil & Balsamic

    FEB 10

    Tasting Italy with Pogliani Select, Purveyors of Olive Oil & Balsamic

    In this episode, we visit Pogliani Select, purveyors of artisanal, estate‑grown olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars sourced directly from small family farms across Italy and Croatia. From the hills of Tuscany and the groves along the Adriatic to a tasting room in the Catskills, we explore how these Old‑World traditions travel across continents — and why the craft behind them matters. This conversation is part tasting, part education, and part journey into the people, places, and practices that shape truly exceptional oils and balsamics. What We Cover 🫒 The origins of Pogliani Select and how they curate estate‑grown oils and balsamics 🫒 What “estate‑grown” and “small‑batch” actually mean — and why they matter 🫒 How to taste olive oil and balsamic like a pro 🫒 Why the Catskills are a natural home for a Mediterranean tasting experience 🫒 Stories from the Italian and Croatian producers behind the bottles 🫒 How education shapes Pogliani Select’s mission as purveyors 🫒 Tips for choosing and using high‑quality oils and balsamics at home About Pogliani Select Pogliani Select partners directly with multi‑generation family farms, importing oils and balsamics that reflect place, tradition, and meticulous craft. Their mission blends purveying with educating — helping people understand not just what they’re tasting, but the heritage behind it. Takeaway This episode is an invitation to slow down, taste with intention, and appreciate the craftsmanship behind oils and balsamics that carry centuries of tradition — now poured and shared in the Catskills. Cover image credit: Meigan Arnone

    42 min
  8. Casting Stories: Nick Lyons on Fishing and Writing

    JAN 27

    Casting Stories: Nick Lyons on Fishing and Writing

    In this special long‑form conversation, Brett Barry sits down with legendary angler‑writer and publisher Nick Lyons, now 93, whose life has been shaped by water, words, and the Catskills. From a childhood spent catching frogs for pocket money to founding one of the most influential fishing imprints in America, Nick’s story is a rare blend of grit, curiosity, and literary devotion. Recorded in Nick’s home in Woodstock, this episode traces his journey from the Bronx to the Beaverkill, from boarding school loneliness to the rhythms of trout streams, from early rejections to a flourishing writing and publishing career. Along the way, Nick reflects on family, loss, love, teaching, and the deep satisfactions of a life lived close to rivers. In This Episode Growing up in the Bronx with Yiddish‑speaking grandparents and bachelor uncles Boarding school memories and discovering fishing at Ice Pond Summers at the Laurel House in Haines Falls — frogs, creeks, and Catskills lore Seeing the Hindenburg fly overhead as a child A difficult stepfather and moves from Mount Vernon to Brooklyn The Army years and the beginnings of serious reading Falling in love with literature at the New School, Bard, and the University of Michigan Meeting Mari — art, shyness, and a life partnership Early writing struggles and a breakthrough with Field & Stream Finding his voice: earthy, nimble, wry, and rooted in lived experience Fishing the Catskills — rhythms, hatches, freestone rivers, and memory Why salmon fishing never clicked Teaching for decades while building a parallel career in publishing Reviving classic fishing literature and launching The Lyons Press The rise of Sportsman’s Classics and the explosion of modern fly‑fishing writing Why he eventually stopped fishing and what he misses most Nick Lyons is one of the most influential figures in American angling literature — but his story is far larger than fishing. It’s about reinvention, persistence, and the way a life can be shaped by curiosity and attention. This episode captures a voice that is warm, reflective, and still sharp with humor and insight. Links & References Nick Lyons’s memoir Fire in the Straw The Seasonable Angler Nick's presentation at the Jerry Bartlett Angling Collection Mari Lyons Studio

    52 min
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Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast is a biweekly series featuring Catskills culture, history, sustainability, local interviews, literature, and the arts. Shows are hosted by Brett Barry and produced by Silver Hollow Audio, in the heart of the Catskills. Subscribe and experience what reviewers have called “delightfully informative” storytelling with “great production quality.” Voted “Best Regional Podcast” three years in a row. Episode archives, transcripts, and a robust search engine at kaatscast.com. Enjoy!

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