Shows
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastMaria MuldaurMaria Muldaur discusses her storied career and new album, One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey, released on July 11th, 2025, on Nola Blue Records. The album is a tribute to the legendary blues singer Victoria Spivey, who was a mentor to Muldaur. It features collaborations with Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, and Tuba Skinny. 2025-07-3037 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastJerusalem Peace Builders Students with Dr. Danna KurtinJerusalem Peace Builders Students visit the Bridgeport, CT area and discuss their trip and community engagement activities with Dr. Danna Kurtin.2025-07-3015 min
The Art Bell ArchiveMarch 6, 2004: Global Warming and Climate Change - Jim MotavelliEnvironmental journalist Jim Motavalli discusses the science and consequences of global warming, highlighting key climate trends, policy responses, and the role of individual action.2025-07-302h 52
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastSpeed the Plough...Rock with Harpsichord!Speed the Plough, a New Jersey rock group from the Hoboken/Maxwell's scene that produced The Feelies and Yo La Tengo, has a serendipitous encounter with an Italian harpsichord professor. And the result is beautiful music. 2025-06-1620 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastHarry Freedman: Bob Dylan's Jewish RootsHarry Freedman, based in England, has previously explored the Jewish roots of Leonard Cohen, but here he takes on Bob Dylan, who was wont to deny those roots--at least early on in his career. 2025-06-1315 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastTessa Souter: The Jazz Singer Takes on Erik SatieTessa Souter is a jazz singer, originally from England but living in New York, who likes ambitious projects. And adapting and writing lyrics for the music of Erik Satie (who died 100 years ago in 2025) is just the latest one. 2025-06-1313 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastAsteroid Mining: Matt Gialich and Astroforge Make it RealAstroforge is going after rare metals like platinum on near-Earth asteroids, hitching rides on the Falcon 9 and other rockets. 2025-06-1315 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastRichard Cortez: Jazz Singer for the LGTBQ Community--And EveryoneRichard Cortez, from Florida originally, had a circuitous route to his role as an emerging jazz singer in New York. He was a confessional Americana singer with messages for his community, did sex work, and stripped in some of the same gay bars where he now performs his beautiful jazz music. 2025-06-1321 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastBrad Kolodner: Secrets of the Gourd BanjoBrad Kolodner is an acclaimed clawhammer banjo player who performs with the chart-topping Irish, Old-Time, bluegrass fusion quartet Charm City Junction. He’s recorded four albums of Old-Time and original music with his father Ken under the name Ken & Brad Kolodner including their latest Billboard-charting release Stony Run (2020). His new album of solo gourd banjo music is called Old Growth. 2025-05-2625 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastJim Kweskin: Living the Jug Band LifeJim Kweskin founded the legendary 1960s Jim Kweskin Jug Band with Fritz Richmond, Geoff Muldaur, Maria Muldaur, Mel Lyman and Bruno Wolfe. During the five years they were together, they successfully transformed the sounds of pre-World War II rural music into a springboard for their good-humored performances. And Kweskin is still at it, with a new album called Doing Things Right, out from Jalopy Records on April 25, 2025.2025-05-2627 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastBefore Elvis: Preston Lauterbach Talks About the King's African-American InfluencesPreston Lauterbach is the author of the book Before Elvis: The African-American Musicians Who Made the King, a book that examines the careers of Big Mama Thornton, Little Junior Parker (author of "Mystery Train"), Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and both Calvin and Phineas Newborn, Jr. He talks to WPKN about how Elvis absorbed their music and stage moves, and sometimes even acknowledged their help. 2025-05-2625 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastMark Weinstein: Restoring Our Sanity OnlineMark Weinstein's new book is Restoring Our Sanity Online: A Revolutionary Social Framework, published by Wiley. Here, he dissects Web 1, until 2001, Web 2--our current state of "Surveillance Capitalism" with dominance by Facebook and Google--and the hopefully more enlightened and less privacy-invading states of Web 3 and Web 4. 2025-03-1918 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastJazz Singer Stacey Kent Takes on an All-Jobim ProgramA subtle and exquisite jazz vocalist, Stacey Kent has long had a love affair with the music of Brazil, and especially that of Antonio Carlos Jobim. On April 12 she joins with Danilo Caymmi (long a member of Jobim's band) for a tribute to bossa nova's greatest composer. 2025-03-1920 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastColin Newman (ex-Wire) and Malka Spigel (ex-Githead) Talk about their Immersion Performance at the 2025 Big Ears FestivalColin Newman of Wire fame and Malka Spigel of Githead first recorded their electronic music as Immersion for the Oscillating album in 1994. They're set to play the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 27. Here they talk to Jim Motavalli from Little Rock, Arkansas. 2025-03-1821 min
Sustain What?Assessing the Dangerous Trump / Musk Effect on Aviation and Highway Safety“Elon Musk can declare, properly, every Starship explosion as a step forward because you have to try lots of things until you see what works. You can't do that with commercial airlines.” - James Fallows Here’s the webcast / podcast version of my Sustain What transportation conversation with longtime journalists James Fallows, David Kerley and Jim Motavalli. All the details and relevant links are in the “curtain raiser”:Sustain What is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Fallows we...2025-03-0455 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastDerek and Hannah Jeter Talk Family--and CarsDerek and Hannah Jeter were interviewed in upstate New York on the set of a commercial they were making for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Obsidian Edition. They talked about family, and cars. 2025-02-2630 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastPhoebe White: African-American Country YodelerPhoebe White is an accomplished yodeler, and demonstrates her skills in this WPKN interview. Her album is Cowgirl's Delight, and it includes appearances from Riders in the Sky and Suzy Bogguss. Six of the 10 tunes are her own. White could be said to part of the movement that includes Rhiannon Giddens and is not only reclaiming the African-American heritage in country music, but blazing her own path in forming its future. 2025-02-2610 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastRoots Music Exemplar Miss Tess in LouisianaMiss Tess, one of our most talented roots singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, has just put out Cher Rêve, an album dedicated to exploring Louisiana's southern Acadiana region and in specific the "magical" city of Lafayette, home of the Blackpot Festival (about music and food). Instead of the Big Easy, Lafayette is the sleepy "Little Easier."2025-02-2618 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastIrish Singer Karan Casey's World ViewThe Irish singer Karan Casey's most recent album is Nine Apples of Gold. She tours regularly in the US, where Irish music has a huge audience. Casey was a member of the popular band Solas, and is a founder of Fairplé, which works to achieve fairness and gender balance for female performers in Irish traditional music. 2025-02-2621 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastSyrian Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh Blends Jazz, World and Classical MusicThe Syrian-born master clarinet player is now based in Brooklyn, and making his hard-to-characterize music--a meld of jazz, Middle Eastern and classical influences--with the CityBand. His latest album was recorded live in Berlin. 2025-02-2616 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastThe Chatham Rabbits: Americana Down on the Family FarmThe Chatham Rabbits, Austin and Sarah McCombie, live on a working farm in rural North Carolina. Their original songs reflect their dedication to the land, and to each other. Be Real With Me is their latest album, evenly split between her songs and his songs. 2025-02-2613 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastJim White and Trey Blake: The Haunted Face of Country MusicJim White is an outsider Americana artist, who uses country music as a jumping off point to explore the psyche in ways that sometimes recall the author Cormac McCarthy. He found a kindred spirit in Trey Blake, an autistic poet he met while on tour in England. He encouraged her singing, and the resulting songs (realized initially by a member of Stereolab) are memorable and deeply probing. This was Blake's very first interview.2025-02-2624 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastGuitarist Bill Frisell on his Jazz-Meets-Country SynthesisOne of the most admired guitarists in jazz, Bill Frisell has never recognized boundaries and his music--while always remaining jazz--reflects his deep study of Americana and country music's roots. He spoke in advance of a 2024 gig in Fairfield, CT. 2024-12-1721 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastNicole Glover: Modern Giant of the Tenor SaxophoneTenor saxophonist Nicole Glover is currently dividing her time between the all-female Artemis band, a new ensemble from bassist Christian McBride, Ursa Major, and her solo projects--sometimes a trio without a net. She's a fully committed player, and here she talks about coming up on the Portland, OR scene and making the all-important move to NYC.2024-12-1738 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastThe Many Worlds of David AmramDavid Amram is a true musical omnivore, with deep roots in jazz (bringing the French horn into the mix), classical and folk music. He virtually invented jazz poetry with Jack Kerouac in the 1950s, worked with Leonard Bernstein and composed symphonic works, and was a friend of Rambling Jack Elliot and Woody Guthrie. Here, at 94, he talks about the musical lessons he's learned. 2024-12-1735 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastAuthor Robert Rubin Talks about His Deep Dive into the film Vanishing PointRobert Rubin is the author Vanishing Point Forever, the ultimate and exhaustive take on the filming and meaning of the semi-existential 1970s road movie Vanishing Point. Who was Barry Newman? Listen and find out. 2024-11-0815 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastKrissy Nagy and the Kranks Celebrate the Jazz StandardsKrissie Nagy is a major new new discovery in jazz singing, making the Great American Songbook come alive with verve and panache. Her self-titled album as Krissie and the Kranks is out now.2024-11-0812 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastMatthew Herd of Britain-based Seafarers on New Album Another StateSeafarers specializes in highly literate, gorgeous pop music that's hard to slot into an easy category. 2024-11-0823 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastSinger-Songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs Talks "Avalanche"The Maine-based singer-songwriter, most famous for asking, "What was I thinking?" talks about her album "Avalanche," her new book, and her hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast. 2024-11-0823 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastAuthor Graeme Thomson on the Engigmatic Kate BushBritish author Graeme Thomson talks about the flamboyant but also press-shy superstar Kate Bush, the subject of the recent update of his incisive biography of her. 2024-11-0821 min
The Jim Motavalli Interview PodcastBilly HarperBilly Harper is a impassioned progressive jazz saxophonist. He is "one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists" with a distinctively stern, hard-as-nails sound on his instrument. He was interviewed by Jim Motavalli for WPKN and New York City Jazz Record. 2024-09-2037 min
WPKN Music, Arts, and Culture PodcastLarry Campbell and Teresa Williams interviewed by WPKN's Jim MotavalliAmericana/folk duo Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams chat with Jim Motavalli ahead of their 2024 CT Folk Fest appearance Saturday, September 7th, at New Haven's Edgerton Park.2024-08-2919 min
WPKN Music, Arts, and Culture PodcastAuthor Erica Gies & Jazz Bassist Stephan Crump interviewed by WPKN's Jim MotavalliThis interview features Erica Gies author of Water Always Wins, Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge (winner of the Rachel Carson Award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism) and jazz bassist Stephan Crump who was inspired by the book to write an 18-part suite called Slow Water. The two are joined by WPKN's Jim Motavalli.2024-08-2818 min
WPKN Music, Arts, and Culture PodcastCory Younts of Old Crow Medicine Show interviewed by WPKN's Jim MotavalliCory Younts of Old Crow Medicine Show is interviewed by WPKN's Jim Motavalli ahead of the group's 2024 Rhythm and Roots, Rhode Island appearance and a 2024 tour.2024-08-2813 min
WPKN Music, Arts, and Culture PodcastPatterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers interviewed by WPKN's Jim MotavalliWPKN's Jim Motavalli interviews Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers ahead of their 2024 Rhythm and Roots appearance in Rhode Island and amidst their Southern Rock Opera Revisited Tour.2024-08-2821 min
RBR+TVBR InFOCUS PodcastThe InFOCUS Podcast: AM Radio, With Jim MotovalliWhat is the purpose of AM radio? Does it have much of a future, given the rise of the electric vehicle and the removal of AM radio accessibility in several EV models from the likes of Tesla to BMW?Those are just some of the questions RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson discussed with automotive technology expert Jim Motavalli in an interview airing on WPKN-FM 89.5 in Bridgeport, Conn., at 9:30pm Eastern on November 22.The full conversation can be heard on WPKN, either live or on demand through the end of 2022. We are pleased to offer excerpts of that conv...2022-11-2212 min
Loving Liberty Radio Network01-26-2022 Liberty RoundTable with Sam BushmanHour 1
* Journalist Peter Schweizer has a new Book, “Red-handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win. The Biden family received around $31M from individuals linked to the highest levels of Chinese intelligence.
* The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the US’ second largest teachers union, is rolling out a nationwide partnership with a “news literacy tool” called NewsGuard “to protect and champion legitimate journalism and fact-based reporting”.
* Ron Paul: ‘Forget the Russians: It’s the Federal Reserve’ – Whether it’s the mainstream media, the CIA, the FBI, or now the Federal Reserve, more and more Americans are waking up t...2022-01-271h 49
The Lisa ShowStaycations, Winter Driving Tips, Chrysalis, World of E-Sports, Marathons and Longevity, HumoristsAmanda Norcross explains vacationing at home, Jim Motavalli teaches how to drive safely in winter, Katia Jones talks about her efforts to help the abused, Logan Horton discusses e-sports, Kate Carter explains the benefits of marathons, Jeanne Robertson talks about how humor can make a difference.2020-02-051h 41
The Lisa ShowWinter Driving TipsDriving in the winter can be dreadful, especially when there’s snow or ice on the forecast. You have to defrost your car all the time, it’s freezing, and sometimes you lose traction and slip and slide on the road. Across the country, we’re all experiencing varying winter driving conditions, but there are a few things we can all do to stay safe and protect the environment. We asked Jim Motavalli to weigh in with some tips for safe and environmentally conscious winter driving. Jim is an author who focuses on environmental preservation, and cars, regularly contributing to Universi...2020-02-0516 minThe Lisa ShowWinter Driving TipsJim Motavalli gives tips for driving safely in the wintertime.2020-02-0516 minThe Lisa ShowStaycations, Winter Driving Tips, Chrysalis, World of E-Sports, Marathons and Longevity, HumoristsLisa’s Adventure Club: Staycations (0:00:00)Welcome to Lisa’s Adventure Club, where we help you find and create adventures both big and small to bring excitement into your life. Vacationing with friends to an amazing part of the world is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of adventure, but you don’t always have the time or money for these big trips. You can have just as much fun by planning a “staycation” for your next weekend getaway. So on this week’s adventure club, we want to help you have a weekend adventure—whether it be a girl’s trip or a boys night out...2020-02-051h 41
Futility ClosetAlone in the Wilderness In 1913 outdoorsman Joseph Knowles pledged to spend two months in the woods of northern Maine, naked and alone, fending for himself "without the slightest communication or aid from the outside world." In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow Knowles' adventures in the woods and the controversy that followed his return to civilization. We'll also consider the roots of nostalgia and puzzle over some busy brothers. Intro: In 1972, a French physicist discovered a natural uranium reactor operating underground in Gabon. In the 13th century the English...2017-03-2030 min
Get Full Audiobook in Business, LeadershipHigh Voltage by Jim Motavalli | Free AudiobookListen to full audiobooks for free on :https://hotaudiobook.com/freeTitle: High Voltage
Author: Jim Motavalli
Narrator: Brian Troxell
Format: Unabridged
Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
Language: English
Release date: 04-09-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genres: Business, Commerce & Economy
Summary:
A behind-the-scenes look at the robustly competitive race to dominate the market for electric cars, the larger-than-life moguls behind them, and the changes that are transforming the auto industry.
In the 1980s, it was unimaginable that the home computer would become as common and easy to use as a toaster. Today, plug-in charging stations and smart grids seem like something still...2014-04-097h 17Discover the Top 100 Audiobooks in Business, Commerce & EconomyHigh Voltage Audiobook by Jim MotavalliPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/1326/to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.
Title: High Voltage
Subtitle: The Fast Track to Plug in the Auto Industry
Author: Jim Motavalli
Narrator: Brian Troxell
Format: Unabridged
Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
Language: English
Release date: 04-09-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes
Genres: Business, Commerce & Economy
Publisher's Summary:
A behind-the-scenes look at the robustly competitive race to dominate the market for electric cars, the larger-than-life moguls behind them, and the changes that are transforming the auto industry.
In the 1980s, it was unimaginable that the home computer would...2014-04-097h 17
Don’t Miss The Sensational Full Audiobook Now, Busy Professionals!High Voltage by Jim MotavalliPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/186339to listen full audiobooks.
Title: High Voltage
Author: Jim Motavalli
Narrator: Brian Troxell
Format: mp3
Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 04-09-14
Ratings: 3.5 out of 5 stars, 2 ratings
Genres: Environmental
Publisher's Summary:2014-04-097h 17
Groks Science Radio Show and PodcastElectric Cars -- Groks Science Show 2011-12-28The electric car has seen some fals starts, but new technical advances and changes to the global environment are propelling the adoption of these vehicles. On this program, Jim Motavalli discussed the new developments in the electric car.2011-12-2826 min
KGNU - How On EarthFuture of Electric Vehicles//Diet and AcneJim Motavalli joins us by phone from his home in Fairfield, Connecticut. Jim is the author of a new book titled “High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug In the Auto Industry” and helped us sort out some of the issues around EVs. Mr. Motavalli is an auto journalist who writes for the New York Times, Car Talk, the Mother Nature Network and PlugInCars.com. Jim has been covering the emerging electric vehicle industry for the last decade. He reported that if he finds some extra money in his sofa cushions he’ll be buying a Tesla Roadster. Rodale Press has do...2011-12-0622 min