116. Cidiot, Come Hither

What does it look like to build a creative life without a ladder, a map, or a five-year plan? In this crossover episode, I sit down with Kingston-based cinematographer, podcaster, and all-around creative human Drew English, host of the podcast No Set Path. We interviewed each other for our respective shows, and this is the Cidiot cut—rooted in the Hudson Valley, flavored with dirt, neighbors, and the reality of figuring it out as you go.Drew shares his journey from years in the NYC film world to building a life (and a studio) in Uptown Kingston—one that balances creativity, parenthood, community, and work that doesn’t always follow a straight line. We talk about why Kingston has become such a magnet for creative people, the myth of the “COVID panic buyer,” how podcasting grew out of basement space and curiosity, and why no set path is actually the point—whether you’re navigating a career, a town, or a brand-new way of living. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can leave the city without leaving yourself behind, this one’s for you.Podcasts, radio stations, and other good things mentioned:Upstate Podcast Studio (Kingston, NY) No Set Path podcast The Valley Girls Podcast Kaatscast podcastHudson Valley Unleashed podcastRhinebeck Scoop podcast Radio Free Rhinecliff Cinema Kingston ⁠WKZE⁠ radio station, Red Hook, NYArrowood Farms, Accord, NY Special: There's a video version of the episode available on Cidiot’s YouTube channel. Thanks, Drew!Thanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit.This episode’s guest editor is Drew English of Upstate Podcast Studio©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

Live from Hudson, NY, it’s an author Q&A with Brian Shaefer and his debut novel Town & Country. Recorded in front of a live audience at Spark of Hudson, Mat moderates a conversation about character, plot, and the worlds of weekender and local coming together.  The story follows a congressional race set in a fictional town of Griffin, inspired by the Hudson Valley. “Duffles” is Brian’s word for cidiots. One lesson which I really appreciated is the importance for all of us in a community, as Brian says, in just “showing up.”  We also play the Cidiot® Geography Game with instinctive reactions to a list of towns across the Hudson Valley. Be sure to get your copy at your local bookstore, via his author page, or through the Cidiot bookstore on Bookshop dot org.Places Mentioned:Hill Rock Distillery, Ancram Rogers Book Barn, Hillsdale Hillsdale General Store, Hillsdale Books & Cake, Hillsdale Zinnia’s Dinette, Craryville Random Harvest Market, Craryville Spotty Dogs Books & Ale, Hudson Spark of Hudson, Hudson Rough Draft Bar & Books, Kingston Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook Harney & Sons, Millerton Phoenicia Diner, Phoenicia Cinnamon, Rhinebeck Diamond Mills Resort, Saugerties Camp Catskill, Tannersville  About Brian Shaefer:Brian contributes regularly to The New York Times and has written for The New Yorker, New York magazine, and more. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Arts Journalism and was a finalist for the Livingston Award for International Reporting. He earned his master’s degree in creative writing from Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv. He and his husband live in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Town & Country is his first novel.Early praise for Town & Country:“A big-hearted and true debut novel set in a small rural town amid a congressional race that forces the candidates, their families, and a clique of gay second homeowners to confront lies, betrayals and shifting allegiances. —Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Price winner“Rich in sex and social intrigue.” —The New York TimesThanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit. Photo credit: Stephen MackThis episode’s guest editor is Julian Blackmore.  ©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

Meet Patrick, owner of Lily’s Natural Pet Store, which just opened its second location after Poughkeepsie in Hudson. We talk dogs—a favorite subject—and why he chose Hudson, why not on Warren Street for his second location, why it’s not your average pet store, about running a pet business (I was thinking of doing one!), and tackle my burning questions such as the smell of bully sticks and what’s so great about raw. And like on many other Cidiot® episodes, we end with favorite places in the Hudson Valley… to take dogs. Lily’s Natural Pet Store — 76 N 7th Street, Hudson, NY 12534“Soft opening” in November (check hours). Grand opening Friday, December 5, 2025. Tell ‘em Cidiot sent ya!Other places and businesses mentioned:Red Wing Park, East FishkillPause Dog Boutique, RhinebeckGuest editor: Drew English of Upstate Podcast StudioThanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show here or in the Apple Podcasts store. Come visit. ©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

Meet Amy and Joyce, owners of The Yoga House, now with three locations in the Hudson Valley — Kingston, Highland and Poughkeepsie. One grew up in the HV; one is a transplant from Queens—what a great fit for coming on Cidiot.  We talk about yoga, the different types, and poke a bit of fun (well, I do, and they’re good sports about it).  They share how they got into yoga, which you won’t believe has quite a bit to do with roller derby. They also share some travel advice for cidiot bodies in the car or on the train coming upstate.  They helped even helped me turn it into a blog post you’ll find on Cidiot.com with photos as well. Special Offer for Cidiot® Listeners: Mention "Cidiot" and get a FREE CLASS  and receive access to a special 15% off discount on regularly priced class passes and memberships.  Notes: Limited time, one per person, first time customers only. Thanks, Joyce and Amy.Learn more at The Yoga House: https://www.theyogahouseny.com/Timestamps to segments:01:25 Mat's history with yoga02:50 Their connections to the Hudson Valley06:32 How and why they started The Yoga House07:40 Types of yoga, including for people like Mat13:37 Guide to yoga for cidiot travelers on train and car (see blog post)17:20 More on practice types and defining them22:02 Cidiot geography game, this time with stereotypes for how they practice yoga (hilarious)29:40 Favorite place in the Hudson ValleyQuotes from the episode:“Yoga House is founded on a basic principle that yoga should be accessible, enjoyable and affordable for every body”— Amy“We teach more to energies — are you looking to chill out, do you want something more energetic?” — JoyceThanks for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show at the site or in the Apple Podcasts store.  Come visit.©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

James Lauren is a board certified nurse practitioner who recently opened up a primary care clinic in Hudson. James is also a new homeowner and bravely let me try in-person recording at his adorable farmhouse with my miniature new recording system. We talk about primary care—what it is and why it matters, plus who their clinic serves. Short answer: everybody. We also chat  about being a new homeowner, bartering labor, talking to people, being nice, painting a subfloor (which is a thing) and what a carpet knife is. Yes, I am still learning new things.Ice cream comes up and we trade notes about our favorite spots across the Valley, plus an upcoming visit to a corn maize. Tune in for a great, timely conversation, and if you are looking for a medical provider, check out James practice called Westside Family Medicine in Hudson, NY.  Links to places mentioned in this episode:James Lauren’s web site with appt schedulingWestside Family Medicine, Greenport/Hudson Tommy B’s Pizza, Craryville Random Harvest market, Craryville Zinnia’s Dinette, Craryville https://www.zinniasdinette.com/Sideshow Vintage, Craryville Samascott’s Orchards, Kinderhook https://www.samascottorchards.com/Stewart’s (multiple locations)Fortune’s ice cream, Tivoli Holy Cow, Red HookDel’s Dairy Farm, Rhinebeck and Hudson  Story Screen Cinema, Hudson Plaza Diner Hudson, Greenport Grandma’s Hands Bakery Thanks for listening to Cidiot, the award-winning podcast about moving to the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter at Cidiot.com and please rate and review the show at the site or in the Apple Podcasts store.  Come visit.©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

Let’s talk about money and about Beacon. This episode, Mat chats with Lena Rizkallah of Conte Wealth Advisors, who is a Chelsea-turned-Beaconite financial advisor.Through Lena, we’ll get to know Beacon better, including lots of great places to eat. We’ll also hear Lena’s story and all she does as a part of the community and building financial literacy in the rest of us. She hosts panels and speakeasies about money, and even does stand up storytelling. Lena was named 2023 Chronogrammies Best Financial Planner of The Hudson Valley, and she was on a great episode of another regional podcast, “Beaconites.” Tune in, and you’ll know why.Links to places, stores and restaurants mentioned:Lena Rizkallah (website)Beaconites! PodcastPoor George, Cold Spring  (store)Madam Brett Park, Beacon Long Dock Park, Beacon Lyonshare Public House, Beacon (bistro)Beacon Bread Company (breakfast) Moreish, Beacon (English-style breakfast) Oda Wine Garden, Margaretville Brushland Eating House, Bovina  Events: Lena has an upcoming Women in Business panel at Hudson Yards in NYC Tuesday September 30, 2025.  Please email her at [email protected] Speakeasy happens the 2nd Tuesday of every month in Cold Spring. Email her [email protected] to be added to the mailing list.Thank you for listening to Cidiot® , the award-winning podcast about living the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the Cidiot listener newsletter and review/rate the shot at Cidiot.com.©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark. 

“Libraries are rooms of requirement.” — Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library SystemThis week on Cidiot®, we’re talking libraries — not just the quiet, book-filled havens you remember, but vibrant community hubs evolving with the times. I’m joined by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, executive director of the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS), which spans 66 libraries across 70 locations in five Hudson Valley counties.We cover everything from the history and future of libraries to banned books, digital access, and how libraries are stepping up as civic centers. Plus, we dive into one of the coolest things happening right now: the Mid-Hudson Library Road Trip. It’s a self-paced adventure through October where you can visit as many libraries as you like — no library card required. Just pick up a map, hit the road, and explore some of the region’s most charming buildings. Perfect for a sunny Saturday or a rainy day wander.And if you love libraries like I do, we talk about how you can support — whether that’s downloading Libby to read more or signing up to be a library advocate through the New York Library Association.Links mentioned in the episode:LOCAL BOOKS & AUTHORSPerfectly Broken*, Robert Burke Warren History of the Hudson River Valley, Vernon BenjaminThe Forest Euphoria*, Patricia Kasian ( *Available in the Cidiot bookstore on Bookshop.org)PLACESInnisfree Garden (Millbrook) Find your local library⁠ACTIVITIES MHLS Road Trip (web); @midhudsonlibsys (Insta) Tag your photos with #MHLibraryRoadTripSign up to be a Library Advocate Unite Against Book BansPhotos: Courtesy of the Mid-Hudson Library System

“This area attracts talented creative people seeking opportunities to play out, all seeking opportunities to play with each other.” — MK ScullyJoin MK Scully, afternoon host and promotions director at WKZE in Red Hook, as Cidiot® digs deeper into the local music scene. Who are the local bands? Where would you go to see them? We talk about both as well as about songs about the area. Genre wise, it’s everything. Singer-songwriter-folk to rock and roll to metal to funk bands to (great) cover bands.Link to resources mentioned on the episode:MK on Instagram: @mk.ultramaticWKZE 98.1 FMRadio WoodstockRadio KingstonMat’s audiobook produced at WKZE (via Amazon and Audible)Home from Here with John Burton ShowDIY Kingston - @diykingston Utopia Studios (Bearsville Studios), Woodstock Reddit/Hudson Valley: https://www.reddit.com/r/hudsonvalleyLocal bands you should know:The Felice BrothersThe BandThe Big TakeoverWhat?SchmaveSeymourWestern SkiesSchwizzBluestone QuarryMatt DuncanMiles Taylour Leo LovechildLocal venues with music:Unicorn Bar, Kingston Snug Harbor, New Paltz The Lemon Squeeze, New Paltz The Park Theatre, Hudson Bearsville Theatre, WoodstockTubbys, KingstonAvalon Lounge, Catskill Songs about the area:“The Catskills Stole My Heart,” Burnell Pines “County Road 14,” Dante De Felice“Story of Fred Short,” Marco Benevento“My Enemies”, James Felice (2025)Thank you for listening to Cidiot® , the award-winning podcast about living the Hudson Valley. Sign up for the newsletter and review/rate the shot at Cidiot.com.©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark

In Episode 117 of Cidiot®, host Mat Zucker sits down with Christy Counts, the president and founder of Neverstill Wines, a New York State-based winery with a tasting room right in Hudson, NY. Christy shares her journey from wine enthusiast to entrepreneur, detailing how she built Neverstill Wines with a focus on sustainability, community, and a deep love for the Hudson Valley.Christy discusses her philosophy behind the Neverstill label, including her commitment to minimal intervention winemaking and supporting local farmers. She also talks about the inspiration behind the name "Neverstill"—a nod to the ever-changing nature of wine, the landscape, and life itself. The episode delves into the distinct character of Hudson as a destination for wine enthusiasts, artists, and urban transplants, and how Neverstill Wines is designed to be a gathering spot for locals and visitors. Christy and Mat discuss the importance of fostering community through wine and the growing New York State wine economy. Terms to know for this episode:Minimal intervention: A winemaking approach that limits additives and manipulation, letting the grapes and terroir shine.Tasting room: A dedicated space where visitors can sample and purchase wines directly from the producer.Flight: Curated selection of wines, usually 3 to 6, often presented for tasting comparison and explorationLinks from the episode:Visit Neverstill Wines, 739 Warren St., Hudson, NY Follow Neverstill on Instagram for updates on new releases and events: @neverstillwinesFeast & Floret 13 South 3rd St., Hudson (Restaurant - dinner or weekend brunch pick)The Quiet Botanist, 426 Warren St., Hudson (Shop)Talbott & Arding, 202 Allen Street, Hudson (Cheese & Provisions Market)Quinnies, 834 Route 66, Hudson (Restaurant - lunch pick)Other Regional Wine & Bev Links:Dutchess County Wine Trail (Dutchess County Tourism)"Hudson Valley Wineries" (recent feature in HV Magazine)"Artisanal Beverage Makers in Columbia County" map (Columbia County Tourism)Shawangunk Wine Trail (13 wineries across the region)Thank you for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about living the Hudson Valley. Tune in and raise a glass with us!Special promotion from Neverstill: Drop by Neverstill Tasting Room on Warren Street and mention "Cidiot," and you’ll get a complimentary wine tasting. Certain restrictions apply. For a limited time.  Thanks, Christy!©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

This episode was inspired by a spontaneous poetry commission on the street in Hudson, NY. A poet named Jacqueline crafts “Cidiot, Come Hither,” and Mat takes stock of escaping bubbles and breaking routines. Thanks so much for listening. Please rate and review Cidiot® and sign up for the show’s newsletter at Cidiot.com.Links to places and resources mentioned in the episode:Moto Coffee, Hudson, NY (https://www.motocoffeemachine.com/)Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY (https://walkway.org/)Innisfree Garden, Millerton, NY (https://www.innisfreegarden.org/)Hudson Food Festival, June 7, 12-6 pm, Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Hudson, NYThe Workshop Experience, May 10 and 11, Hillsdale, NY area (https://www.theworkshopexperience.org/)Hudson Valley Food Truck Festival, June 21, Barton Orchards in Poughquag, NYUpstate Art Weekend, July 17-21 https://www.upstateartweekend.org/aboutDestination Dutchess Calendar https://destinationdutchess.com/calendarTrixie’s List (Hudson, NY) https://www.trixieslist.com/©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.