ADK Talks

ADK Taste
  • 4.8 (24)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Semiweekly

ADK Talks brings you the stories behind the people, places, and things to do in the Adirondack Park of New York State. With 6 million acres, the Adirondacks are the ultimate playground.We take you beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of one of America's most breathtaking regions. Just like we do on our website, adktaste.com, our podcast uncovers the hidden gems of the Adirondacks, offering hand-picked recommendations for the best places to stay, eat, shop and do in the Adirondack Park.But this isn't just about places. It's about the people who make the Adirondacks so special and unique. In each episode, we talk to people from all walks of life—restauranteurs, farmers, innkeepers, historians, artists, local leaders, writers, hikers, and more. Hear real stories about what they do, their passions, and how they found their way here.And they'll share their insider tips on the best things to see and do in the Adirondacks – insights you won't find anywhere else.So subscribe now to ADK Talks to get real stories from real people, sharing the real Adirondacks.You can also visit us online at adktaste.com.

  1. Oct 19

    What It Takes for Adirondack Communities to Thrive

    The Adirondacks are more than mountains, lakes, and spectacular scenery. They're also home to the people who run the restaurants, maintain the roads, staff the hospitals, operate the farms, and keep small towns alive. And the challenges facing those year-round communities affect everyone who loves spending time here. Why is your favorite restaurant closed several days a week? Why are housing and healthcare increasingly difficult to access? And what will it take to ensure the next generation can afford to build a life in the North Country? In this episode of ADK Talks, Jane and Steve welcome Blake Gendebien, a second-generation dairy farmer, owner of Twin Mill Farms, and Democratic congressional candidate in New York's 21st District. NY-21 covers roughly 16,000 square miles, including the entire Adirondack Park. From the St. Lawrence River and Canadian border to Lake Champlain, Lake George, the Mohawk Valley, and communities such as Rome and Glens Falls, it encompasses remarkably different places facing many of the same challenges. For perspective, that's bigger than the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Drawing on his experiences running Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon and traveling extensively across the district, Blake shares what he's learned from farmers, small business owners, families, seniors, veterans, and young people throughout the North Country. The conversation explores the economic realities behind the Adirondack experience, from housing and workforce shortages to rural healthcare, the skilled trades, Canadian trade, and the opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies. And, as always, there's an Adirondack Gem—this one with a special family connection to Higley Flow. What you'll hear in this episode How Blake's journey took him from the family farm to Germany and back to the North Country.What connects communities across a congressional district larger than several U.S. states.Why housing, healthcare, transportation, and workforce challenges matter to Adirondack residents and visitors alike.How Canadian trade, artificial intelligence, and economic development are shaping the region's future.What the next generation needs to thrive in the North Country—and Blake's favorite Adirondack family memories.Whether you live in the Adirondacks, own a camp, visit every summer, or simply care about the region's future, this conversation offers a different perspective on the people and communities behind the landscape. Learn more about our guest. Blake Gendebien is a second-generation dairy farmer and owner of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon, New York. He is also the Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District. Learn more about his agricultural business at Twin Mill Farms or visit his campaign website for information about his candidacy and policy positions. Mentioned in this episode: Washboard Donut ShoppeHigley FlowThe Wild Center, Tupper LakeTROLLS: Save the Humans at The Wild CenterTwin Mill Farms Produced by NOVA

  2. Oct 12

    James Bond in the Adirondacks: Retracing The Spy Who Loved Me

    James Bond in the Adirondacks? Believe it or not, 007 once traded the glamour of London and Monte Carlo for Route 9 and Lake George. In Ian Fleming’s 1962 novel The Spy Who Loved Me, a young woman named Vivienne Michel sets off from Montreal on a Vespa, eventually landing at a lonely Adirondack motor court near Lake George. That’s where Bond finally enters the story, in one of Fleming’s strangest and most fascinating departures from the usual 007 formula. We sat down with Adirondack local and internationally recognized James Bond scholar Frieda Toth, who took her fascination with the book one step further: she retraced Vivienne’s journey through the Adirondacks herself on a vintage motor scooter. Along the way, we explore the real Adirondack places Fleming worked into the novel, from Storytown and Route 9 to Glens Falls and Lake George. Frieda helps us separate Fleming’s remarkably accurate local details from the things he got hilariously wrong. October in the Adirondacks on a Vespa, anyone? Whether you’re a James Bond fan, a Lake George history buff, or someone who loves discovering an unexpected Adirondack connection, this episode may change the way you look at Route 9. What you’ll hear in this episode Why Ian Fleming set The Spy Who Loved Me in the Adirondacks.How the novel broke nearly every rule of the usual James Bond formula.What Fleming got surprisingly right, and wrong, about Lake George and Route 9.Why Frieda retraced Viv’s journey on a vintage motor scooter.The classic Adirondack attractions she discovered along the way.Why Fleming’s Adirondacks make more sense in August than October.How Lake George’s motels, roadside attractions, and pre-Northway traffic shaped the story.Why The Spy Who Loved Me deserves another look from Bond fans. Resources: Ian Fleming FoundationThe Spy Who Loved MeJames Bond in the AdirondacksStorytown, Motels, and Summer Memories: How Lake George Became America's Vacation Paradise Produced by NOVA

  3. Sep 28

    The Dancing Witches: From the Harz Mountains to the Adirondacks

    Pointed hats. Decorated broomsticks. Classic rock. And a whole lot of Adirondack joy. If you’ve been to a fall festival, parade, or community celebration around North Creek, Indian Lake, Lake George, or Gore Mountain, there’s a good chance you’ve spotted the Adirondack Dancing Witches. But what looks like a wonderfully quirky performance from the crowd has a much bigger story behind it. We sit down with Crystal, Raven, and Shabby to find out how an international dancing-witch phenomenon inspired their Adirondack group, how 18 women ranging in age from 45 to 85 put their own rock-and-roll spin on the tradition, and why becoming a witch can mean much more than putting on a costume. There’s plenty of fun here, from witch names and glowing broomsticks to dancing at Gore Mountain. But there’s also something deeper: friendship, healing, freedom, and the simple pleasure of giving grown-ups permission to play. And if you’re planning a fall trip to the Adirondacks, you’ll hear where you can catch the Dancing Witches in action. What you’ll hear in this episode How the Dancing Witches found their way to the Adirondacks.Why every witch chooses her own name and costume.How classic rock became part of their signature performance.Why the group has become a genuine sisterhood.The unforgettable moments they’ve shared with children, seniors, and longtime fans.Where to see the Dancing Witches around the Adirondacks this fall. Resources: Adirondack Dancing Witches / Gem Radio TheaterGore MountainTannery Pond CenterWiawaka Women’s Center Produced by NOVA

  4. Sep 21

    Anne LaBastille: The Woman Behind Woodswoman

    Fifty years after Woodswoman introduced readers to a woman building an independent life in a remote Adirondack cabin, Anne LaBastille still captures the imagination. But the cabin on Twitchell Lake was only one part of her remarkable story. We talk with seventh-generation Adirondacker and author Penny Harr about her new book, Anne LaBastille: A Biography of the Woodswoman, and the woman she discovered through years of interviews and archival research. Anne was a wildlife ecologist, writer, licensed Adirondack guide, Adirondack Park Agency commissioner and international conservationist. She earned her Ph.D. from Cornell, conducted environmental work in Guatemala and elsewhere around the world, and built a career in fields where women were often expected to stay on the sidelines. Penny takes us beyond the familiar legend to explore Anne’s fierce independence, complicated personality, relentless work ethic and lasting influence on the Adirondacks. We also visit the story behind her famous cabin, now preserved at Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake, and consider why her ideas about wilderness, silence, conservation and slowing down outdoors still feel so relevant 50 years later. What you’ll hear in this episode How Anne LaBastille found her way to the Adirondacks.The reality behind building and living in her Twitchell Lake cabin.The scientist and conservationist behind the Woodswoman legend.How she broke barriers in male-dominated fields.Why Woodswoman became a symbol of independence for generations of women.How Anne’s cabin and conservation legacy are being preserved today.Why her message about wilderness, silence and protecting the Adirondacks still resonates. Resources: Anne LaBastille: A Biography of the WoodswomanAnne LaBastille’s Cabin at Adirondack Experience Woodswoman by Anne LaBastilleAdirondack Center for Writing Produced by NOVA

  5. Sep 14

    Forest Bathing & Mindful Outdoor Adventures

    What if your next Adirondack adventure had no summit, mileage goal, or destination at all? We sit down with New York State outdoor guide Nathan June, founder of Nathan’s Nature Navigations, to explore forest bathing and the simple practice of slowing down enough to really notice the woods around you. Nathan’s relationship with nature changed dramatically after a major health crisis and liver transplant in 2016. During his recovery, quiet visits to parks and places around Lake George helped him experience the outdoors differently. That eventually led him to forest bathing, mindful outdoor guiding, and training through Kripalu’s School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership. From “soft fascination” and sit spots to unexpected encounters with Adirondack wildlife, Nathan shares ways to experience the forest without worrying about conquering it. And you don’t need to disappear deep into the High Peaks to try it. A patch of woods, a local park, or even a quiet spot beneath a few trees can be enough to begin. Whether you’re planning an Adirondack getaway, looking for a gentler outdoor experience, or simply curious about experiencing familiar trails differently, this conversation might convince you to leave the summit goals behind for an afternoon. What you’ll hear in this episode What forest bathing actually looks like.How Nathan’s recovery changed his relationship with nature.Why slowing down outdoors can feel surprisingly difficult.The idea of “soft fascination” and learning to notice more.How sit spots can change the way you experience Adirondack wildlife.Why Inman Pond on Lake George’s east side remains special to Nathan. Resources: Nathan’s Nature NavigationsInman Pond / Lake George Wild ForestKripalu School of Mindful Outdoor LeadershipSUNY Adirondack Outdoor EducationAssociation of Nature and Forest Therapy Produced by NOVA

  6. Sep 7

    Something’s Out There: Searching for Bigfoot in the Adirondacks

    What if the Adirondacks’ most famous mystery isn’t hiding in the history books, but somewhere just off the trail? We’re heading back into Bigfoot country with John Sheridan, creator of Adirondack Bigfoot, who investigates eyewitness reports across the Adirondack Park. John talks with the people behind the encounters, visits the locations where they happened, and documents what he finds through video, audio, trail cameras, footprint casts and plenty of time in the woods. From Whitehall and Lake George to Wells, Ticonderoga, Keeseville and the Lake Champlain corridor, John has collected stories that range from strange wood knocks and unexplained tracks to alleged roadside encounters and something throwing rocks at Adirondack campers. And he has a theory about why so much of the activity seems to cluster along the eastern edge of the Adirondack Park. What you’ll hear in this episode Why eyewitnesses sometimes wait decades to share their Bigfoot encounters.The Adirondack evidence John looks for, from footprints and wood knocks to trail-camera images.John’s theory about a Bigfoot migration route through the Lake Champlain corridor.Strange encounters from Whitehall, Wells, Lake George and beyond.Why caves, old mines and remote Adirondack terrain keep coming up in his investigations.What believers, skeptics and the Bigfoot-curious can discover by slowing down in the woods. Resources: Adirondack BigfootWhitehall Sasquatch Festival & Calling ContestTracking Legends: Sasquatch in the AdirondacksSasquatch in the Adirondacks Produced by NOVA

  7. Aug 31

    Growing the Future: Women, Apples, and Adirondack Agriculture

    Ever wonder how a New York apple picked in October can still taste crisp the following summer? We’re heading to Peru, New York, in the Champlain Valley to meet Jenna Mulbury, third-generation co-owner of Northern Orchard and our latest guest in the Women in Agriculture series with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County. Northern Orchard has been growing apples since 1906, and today its fruit travels from the Adirondack Coast to grocery stores across the country. Jenna takes us beyond the farm stand and into the surprisingly scientific world of commercial apple growing. We learn how enormous low-oxygen storage rooms essentially put apples “to sleep,” why warm days and cool Adirondack nights help create that perfect red blush, and just how much work goes into growing the flawless fruit shoppers expect. There’s plenty here for anyone planning a fall trip to the Adirondacks, too. Jenna shares what’s growing at the Northern Orchard Farm Stand, why you should venture beyond your usual Honeycrisp, and a few apple varieties worth hunting down this season. What you’ll hear in this episode How Northern Orchard has grown apples since 1906How apples stay fresh nearly year-roundWhy the Champlain Valley is ideal for apple growingJenna’s experience as a woman in agricultureNew apple varieties worth tryingHow to choose and store apples at homeWhat’s fresh at the Northern Orchard Farm StandWhy the Adirondacks extend beyond the Blue Line Resources: Northern OrchardCornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton CountyNew York State Horticultural SocietySUNY CobleskillNew York Apple Association Produced by NOVA

  8. Aug 24

    Storytown, Motels, and Summer Memories: How Lake George Became America's Playground

    Long before family vacations meant airport security and resort apps, there was Lake George. In the 1950s and ’60s, families piled into their cars and headed north to the Adirondacks for cottage colonies, roadside attractions, speedboats, theme parks, elaborate nightlife and days spent on the Queen of American Lakes. In this episode of ADK Talks, we visit Bolton Landing and the Bolton Museum’s “Welcome to Lake George: Vacation Paradise of the 50s & 60s” exhibit with curator Lisa Hall and Lake George Mirror publisher Toni Hall. It’s a trip back to an era when Lake George was reinventing itself for America’s newly mobile middle class. Victorian hotels and private estates gave way to motels and vacation cottages. Story Town and Frontier Town became family destinations. Restaurants and nightclubs stayed open into the early morning. And projects like the Adirondack Northway and Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway made the region easier to reach than ever before. But there’s more here than nostalgia. Lisa and Toni reveal how that tourism boom changed Lake George, why the excitement surrounding massive development projects eventually began to fade, and how concerns about growth helped fuel a new appreciation for protecting the Adirondacks. What you’ll hear in this episode How Lake George became a family vacation hotspotThe motels, cottage colonies and attractions of the ’50s and ’60sLake George nightlife during its mid-century heydayHow the Northway reshaped Adirondack tourismThe story behind the Bolton Museum exhibitWhy Lake George history still sparks strong memories today Resources: Lake GeorgeThe Bolton MuseumThe Sembrich Opera Museum Produced by NOVA

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About

ADK Talks brings you the stories behind the people, places, and things to do in the Adirondack Park of New York State. With 6 million acres, the Adirondacks are the ultimate playground.We take you beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of one of America's most breathtaking regions. Just like we do on our website, adktaste.com, our podcast uncovers the hidden gems of the Adirondacks, offering hand-picked recommendations for the best places to stay, eat, shop and do in the Adirondack Park.But this isn't just about places. It's about the people who make the Adirondacks so special and unique. In each episode, we talk to people from all walks of life—restauranteurs, farmers, innkeepers, historians, artists, local leaders, writers, hikers, and more. Hear real stories about what they do, their passions, and how they found their way here.And they'll share their insider tips on the best things to see and do in the Adirondacks – insights you won't find anywhere else.So subscribe now to ADK Talks to get real stories from real people, sharing the real Adirondacks.You can also visit us online at adktaste.com.

Information

  • Creator
    ADK Taste
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 ADK Talks
  • Show Website
    ADK Talks

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