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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This week on Hudson Valley Unleashed we sit down with Paul Schiavo — a guy who went from working with iconic recording artists such as Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Natalie Merchant, Aretha Franklin (and about a dozen other legends) to guiding fly fishing trips in the Catskills. Paul’s lived about three rock and roll lifetimes: snowed-in sessions with Rush, near-misses with John Mayer's fortune, underground gigs that turned into Woodstock lore. And then, just when most people would be chasing bigger tours, he traded it all for waders and trout.

We get into the chaos of the Bearsville years, what it’s like herding John Mayer, why Geddy Lee made him starstruck, and how fly fishing in the Catskills became his true encore. It’s sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll… followed by salmon runs, conservation, and cold beer by the river.