Lorraine Toussaint: Love Hard, Live Loud

Lorraine Toussaint: Love Hard, Live Loud

Lorraine Toussaint is the kind of guest who makes time slow down and the truth get loud. You know her as Aunt Vi on The Equalizer, Vee on Orange Is the New Black, and the unforgettable Cressida in Into the Badlands, but in this episode Lorraine goes way beyond the roles. She talks about growing up in Trinidad, moving to Brooklyn, the High School of Performing Arts, and Juilliard, plus the wild moment her real-life story ended up shaping Fame. We get into motherhood, single parenting on set, and what it means to raise a child with authenticity at the center. Then the conversation turns deep, fast: spirituality, fear, division, and Lorraine’s reminder that love is not soft, it’s a practice, and sometimes it’s a weapon. We also talk Hudson Valley life, Omega Institute energy, planting trees, growing food, finding stillness, and why she comes “home” when she’s upstate.

Create Happiness: Chef Ric Orlando’s Only Rule

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.

Boujee, Ballsey, and Barely Behaved: Jen C Takes over HV 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.

From WDST to Sheroes: Carmel Holt Turns Conversation into Culture

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.

From Canal House to World Class Wine Educator: Kevin Zraly

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.