S2:E35 | Pride Month, Ukulele, the Spring Woods Mystery & AI

S2:E42 | Howard Miller Jr., Velocity Soccer Club, Home Visitor, Doubly Mad & Hoops & Dreams

“It’s gotta be a dream.” Utica City FC professional Howard Miller Jr. shares what it really takes to reach the professional level—from passion and constant training to mental focus and discipline. Velocity Soccer Club founders Kayla Fazekas and Josh Lewin explain how they’re working to make advanced youth soccer training more accessible, while young players share how the sport builds confidence, friendships, and teamwork. Plus, Hoops & Dreams brings families together while continuing Patrick Johnson’s legacy; Thomas Townsley reads his surrealist poetry and joins William Welch to discuss Doubly Mad; and Mordechai Rosenblatt of Home Visitor performs “Weezer Tattoo” and “I’ve Got Nothing.” This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday S2:E42. All the stories. All the culture. All in one show. 👍😎 #MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday #UticaCityFC #VelocitySoccerClub #HoopsAndDreams #DoublyMad #HomeVisitor #UticaNY

S2:E41 | Carmelo Joubert, Adriana Primadonna & Srebrenica Walk

In this episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday, Ron Klopfanstein brings together music, community, and remembrance. Event producer Carmelo Joubert joins Ron to preview “A Day Up in Heaven,” happening Friday, July 17, from 5–10 p.m. at Proctor Park. Singer, songwriter, and producer Adriana Davis Sumter—also known as Adriana Primadonna—discusses her creative journey and shares her music, including “10 X 10,” “Might as Well Be Spring,” and “Potential.” This episode also features Ron and Jim Hale’s report from the Bosnian American Community Association’s Srebrenica Walk at the Sebelj in Utica. The community gathered to honor the more than 8,000 people killed in the July 1995 Srebrenica genocide and to help ensure their stories are never forgotten. Watch the Srebrenica Walk feature story: https://youtu.be/6lb9BJR936A Host and Producer: Ron Klopfanstein Photojournalist and AI Content Producer: Jim Hale Audio Engineer: Jonathan Brooks, DJ J Easy Correspondents: Nabil Khan and Lily Christopher Watch past episodes: https://UticaPhoenix.net/MediaMonday Listen Mondays from 5–6 p.m. on 95.5 FM The Heat: https://955TheHeat.com #MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday #Srebrenica #AdrianaPrimadonna #CarmeloJoubert #UticaNY

S2:40 | Carrion Creek Creator Pete Colter, Sarita's Food Truck & Voice of Da Voiceless'Reese Peace Day

🎙️ This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday, we spotlight independent creativity, community, and perseverance across the Mohawk Valley. 🎬 Pete Colter, creator and producer of the upcoming retro horror anthology Carrion Creek, joins us to discuss bringing the series to life, launching its Kickstarter campaign, and why he's bringing back the classic 22-episode TV season. 🌮 Then we sit down with Sarita Ruiz, owner of Sarita's Food Truck, to talk about entrepreneurship, Puerto Rican cuisine, building a successful food truck business, and overcoming the challenges of running a small business. 🕊️ We also take you to Voice of the Voiceless' Reese Peace Day, where community members gathered to honor the memory of Reese Howard while promoting peace, healing, and unity. Photojournalist & AI Content Producer Jim Hale and I were there with this special report. 📞 Plus, Sarah Swan from Utica Creative Reuse joins us to preview this year's Trash to Treasure art exhibition celebrating creativity through recycled materials. Guests • Pete Colter – Creator & Producer, Carrion Creek • Sarita Ruiz – Owner, Sarita's Food Truck • Sarah Swan – Utica Creative Reuse 📻 Hot Seat: Media Monday Hosted by Ron Klopfanstein Broadcast Mondays at 5 PM on 95.5 FM The Heat and streaming worldwide at 955TheHeat.com. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch past episodes at: https://UticaPhoenix.net/MediaMonday [https://uticaphoenix.net/MediaMonday] #CarrionCreek #FoodTruck #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #UticaNY #MohawkValley #IndependentFilm #PuertoRicanCuisine #Community #VoiceOfTheVoiceless #ReesePeaceDay #MediaMonday #MeetMeInTheHotSeat

S2:E39 | Jeff Miller, Coffee, Tea & a Ph.D.; Citizen Lou; Edgar Lopez-Duran Family Speaks; Utica Juneteenth

This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday... ☕ Jeff Miller from Coffee, Tea & a Ph.D. joins us to discuss his innovative lecture series at The Tram, lifelong learning, and the history of segregation in Upstate New York. 🎵 Musical guest Citizen Lou returns with two original performances, including a song written especially for Hot Seat: Media Monday. 🎤 Lily Christopher and I speak with the children of Edgar Lopez-Duran about the emotional and financial toll his criminal case and ICE detention have had on their family. ✊ Plus, I take you to Utica's 10th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, where community members share what the holiday means to them and why its message remains important today. 📻 Listen live every Monday from 5–6 PM on 95.5 FM The Heat or stream at 955TheHeat.com. 🎧 Watch and listen anytime: ▶️ YouTube 🎙 Spotify 🍎 Apple Podcasts ❤️ iHeartRadio 📚 Past episodes: UticaPhoenix.net/MediaMonday 👍😎 #MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday #Utica #MohawkValley #Juneteenth #CitizenLou #CoffeeTeaAndAPhD #JeffMiller #LocalNews #CommunityJournalism #EdgarLopezDuran

S2:E38 — Brandon Ciotti, Amanda Marie, Puerto Rican Pride & Young Einstein’s

This week on Hot Seat: Media Monday, Ron Klopfanstein brings together comedy, music, culture, creativity, and community. The episode features comedian Brandon Ciotti, who talks about stand-up comedy, joke writing, stage confidence, bombing, improv, and his upcoming comedy night at Players of Utica on June 27. Recording artist Amanda Marie, also known as Batmanda, joins the show to discuss her music, her songwriting process, buying beats, blending genres, and her upcoming hip hop album. She also shares the story behind the name Batmanda and the message behind her song “Grateful.” Ron also takes listeners to International Fairy Day at Dunham Public Library in Whitesboro, where artist Lorraine Kreimeyer hosted a celebration filled with young fairy fans, magic cookies, invisible painting, and glimpses into a magic mirror. Photojournalist and AI Content Producer Jim Hale and Ron visit the Puerto Rican Day Cookout at Proctor Park in Utica, highlighting food, family, music, culture, Puerto Rican pride, Dominican support, and the importance of knowing where we come from. Lily Christopher closes the episode with a feature from Young Einstein’s Preschool, where she talks with Maria Lallier about the Reggio approach to early childhood education and how children show curiosity, intelligence, creativity, and personality through their artwork. Hosted by Ron Klopfanstein. Guests and Features: Brandon Ciotti Amanda Marie / Batmanda International Fairy Day at Dunham Public Library Puerto Rican Day Cookout at Proctor Park Lily Christopher with Maria Lallier at Young Einstein’s Preschool Photojournalism and AI Content Production by Jim Hale Associate Producer: Lily Christopher Entertainment Correspondent: Nabil Khan Audio Engineering: Jonathan Brooks / DJ J-Easy Meet me in the Hot Seat. #MeetMeInTheHotSeat #MediaMonday