Episodes

If you love books, you’ll love this episode. Cidiot gets local, pro recommendations from Oblong Books in Millerton and Rhinebeck, The Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, Rough Draft Bar & Books in Kingston, and several Cidiot liste...

A big part of why we love the Hudson Valley and Catskills is because of the farms and the animals. In this awesome, moving, eye-opening, and hilarious episode, you’ll meet the fabulous Kathy Stevens and hear how Catskill Anim...

Super-short episode today while Cidiot prepares for a big, big, big fall sprint of shows starting September 1. Get on the free Cidiot newsletter to not miss a thing ! Cidiot Anthem (Audio only): Apple Music , Spotify , Sound...

Four years since the show debuted! What a good time for a State of the Cidiot . In this special episode, Mat reflects on what Cidiot has accomplished so far along with birthday messages from several listeners, including Mark,...

Is there an equivalent for cidiots in Maine? Yes there is! In fact, Mainers have their own dictionary of phrases I was excited to learn on our two-week vacation. It got me thinking about doing nothing and doing everything. I'...

Newburgh is one of the oldest towns in New York State and frequently talked about as a city coming around. Cidiot spoke to Diane Parisella, who with her business partner Lisa Morgan, own Designed Grind Cafe at the Newburgh Ma...

I asked our new sponsors at Taconic Toastmasters Club to help me be a better presenter on air for you. They went through a few of my episodes and tell me what I'm doing right—and maybe could be better. I'm …

Let's go further north. Health. History. Horses. And culture. Cidiot has a one-on-one conversation with Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). You’ll hear about Elizabeth’s journey to le...

It's strawberry season! Yes, I can't eat them sadly, but you probably can happily. In this special episode breaking from our usual schedule, hear directly from Robinson Greig at Greig Farm on best practices of what to look fo...

Pride starts early in June across the Hudson Valley, Catskills and Berkshires. This episode I talk to Osun Zotique , executive director of OutHudson and the co-grand marshal of Hudson Pride. If you’re following the news, you ...

Is it a chore or a passion? This episode of Cidiot we go through seasonal to-do lists, from Mat, from listeners—and from a special guest Robinson Greig of Greig Farm . No one has a longer—or more daunting list—than a …

Some of the most important news is local. Mat interviews Emily Sachar, publisher and editor of The Daily Catch. She shares her journey from a newspaper reporter (including an internship under Bob Woodward at The Washington Po...

The Chronogrammies weren't always reader's choice, but luckily they are now. This episode, Mat reviews Chronogram magazine's 3rd Annual Chronogrammies finalists category by category with his picks for your vote—and why. From ...

Whether you consider cottage core a movement or a stylish trend, it’s a connection to the past. I talk about what it means to me, including its form in Jello-molds. I also talk to Jeremy Franson and Sandra Franson, who …

This episode of Cidiot is about managing stress and the proven science of the great outdoors being good for you. I talk to Allison Chawla, host of Talk to Allison on Radio Free Rhinecliff as well as a psychotherapist, healer,...

Cidiot is about being new in and acclimating to country life. So what happens if you, say, move to south Florida for a few months and try to fit in there? In this special episode, you'll find out. Mat shares …

Andrew & Clark of Hamilton & Adams. Photo: James J. Reddington Maybe you’ve seen the t-shirt. Maybe you own one. I sure do. “Upstate & Chill” is a trademark saying from Hamilton & Adams , a cool and beloved retailer …

Cidiot is back, turning up the volume with a bigger-than-ever Season Five. Four years and 58 episodes have taught Mat a thing or two, plus the listener survey piled up the advice to make this season five-u-lous. We're startin...

I don't think we've talked this season enough about cows. So to close out the year and season four, meet Matt Baumgartner. Matt owns June Farms in upstate New York near Albany as well the Troy Beer Garden, the Berlin …

Sometimes life comes full circle. This episode, Mat interviews Lori Greenberg and Sarah Goldberg from The Container House in Tivoli, NY , coincidentally (or is it?) owned by a recruiter and business owner from Mat's past. The...

Meet Kimberlie Dykeman, a Rhinebeck native, who runs Wingman , a personal concierge and estate management business in the Hudson Valley. She and I cover what’s changed, why she started her business, advice for new homeowners,...

What’s the rush with hiking? What's the difference between a walk and a hike? This episode Mat talks to Sean O’Dwyer, who runs Mountain-Hiking.com , a popular blog for the Catskills, Hudson Highlands, Adirondacks and beyond. ...

Fall is a season of things dying to be reborn. In the thick of Fall and facing the reality of Winter, Mat makes an argument for planting seeds now that you want to bloom later. Special shoutout to the new …

The county is the “arms” of the state government, notes Rebecca Edwards, Dutchess County legislator (Town of Poughkeepsie) and Democratic minority leader. In this special episode, Edwards talks to Cidiot about why local elect...