Author: Dan Gould

Dan has been a regular contributor to the Charlottesville Podcasting Network since 2008. He has produced over 1000 feature length podcasts for the site.
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Apropos Of Something: Righting Post-Conviction Wrongs & Iranian Resistance Returns

Apropos Of Something hosts Ellen Daniels and Nancy Laurence talk with Deirdre M. Enright, Director of Investigation, UVA Law School’s Innocence Project Clinic, on their concerted efforts to overturn wrongful convictions; and Emily Blout PhD, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Media Studies, on the Iranian people’s renewed resistance to their government.

Apropos Of Something seeks out guests who are passionate about the arts, politics and society at-large. Co-hosts Ellen Daniels in Charlottesville and Nancy Laurence in New York City chat with experts, activists, and the most interesting people they can find. We guarantee every show will be Apropos Of Something.

Join Ellen and Nancy on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, every Saturday from 10-11 a.m.

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Introducing Our Local Commonwealth’s Attorneys

Commonwealth Attorneys Robert Tracci (left) and Joe Platania speaking at the Senior Center in Charlottesville.

“Commonwealth’s Attorney” is Virginia the term for “prosecutor”, the district attorney who goes after the bad guys. There’s a lot more to their job:

  • Prosecutors have wide discretion as regards whom they “throw the book at” and to whom they give second chances by sending them to “diversion” programs such as substance-abuse treatment versus locking them up. How they exercise that discretion is very important in determining the livability of the locality they serve, as New York City residents found when so-called “minor” crimes were ignored.
  • Prosecutors can have a major impact on crime prevention by advising groups targeted by criminals about the scams likely to be tried on them.
  • Prosecutors are among the best expert witnesses when legislators are considering changes to the criminal code or the process for considering criminal cases.

In this podcast, we’ll hear from City Commonwealth’s Attorney, Joseph Platania, and Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Robert Tracci.

Joe Platania was elected Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney this past November but he has been with that office since 2003. For much of that time he also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, helping to prosecute federal criminal cases. Joe is a graduate of Providence College and the Washington & Lee University School of Law. Before joining the City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office he was an assistant public defender and an appellate attorney for the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center. Joe is the current president of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association.
Robert Tracci was elected Albemarle County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney in November 2015. Before that he had been a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and a Deputy Assistant Attorney General dealing with violations of federal criminal law. Prior to that Robert had been a senior staff member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, the House committee that deals with criminal law and criminal procedure, voting rights, intellectual property and other areas. Robert is a Phi Beta Kappa alumnus of Ohio Wesleyan University and a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law.

 

The event took place at the Wednesday January 10, 2018 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia. The meeting was held at the Senior Center in Charlottesville. Following the presentation, questions were taken from the audience. SSV Vice President Terry Cooper moderated.

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Blokes on the Bench: Special New Year’s Edition

Blokes on the Bench first want to wish a Happy New Year to all our listeners!. This week Andy Richardson, and the rest of the blokes discuss the current state of the Premier League table, after a very busy Christmas and New Year for all EPL teams. Plus David Deaton from Charlottesville Alliance FC is in the studio with all the news on the club after they joined the NPSL as an expansion team!

The blokes are Andy Richardson, Mark Coffman, Alex Gomaa, Christian Galdencio and Daniel Rothamel.

Blokes on a Bench is heard on WPVC 94.7 Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m.

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Wake-Up Call: A Look Back at 2017

Sunday Morning Wake-up Call producer Dan Gould takes a look back at three stories from our 2017 archives that are even more relevant today. Karim Ginena talks about being Muslim in Charlottesville, Brian Cannon talks about ending gerrymandering in Virginia and Nikuyah Walker gives her eye witness account of the events of August 12th and talks about her successful run for Charlottesville City Council. Ms. Walker became mayor of the City of Charlottesville on January 2, 2018.

The Sunday Morning Wake-up Call is heard on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon.

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Home Grown: Hat Trick: Paintings and Film at Chroma Arts and Belly Dance

Home Grown: Your Show about Local Art

Today on Home Grown, we touch on three art forms for the price of one show. (And considering that the show is free for you to listen to, that’s a pretty good price.) First, Deborah McLeod from Chroma Projects Art Lab returns with two interesting artists. We have painter Martha Saunders ruminating over the loss of language in her current exhibit Transmutations. Also, for the month of January, Chroma is showing filmmaker Richard Knox Robinson’s documentary Orwell’s Revolution. Then dance returns to Home Grown as Belly Dance master Joy Rayman from Fire in the Belly returns to talk about their next round of classes coming up at The Dance Spot. We’re trying to get you all the art we can on Home Grown: Your Show about Local Art.

Home Grown is heard on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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Live Arts Radio: After the Dragon is Dead

This is our fifth in a series of radio plays from Charlottesville’s top playwrights and the talented actors at Live Arts Radio. Each play was written by members of Charlottesville’s Playwright’s Lab.

This episode takes a peak behind the heroic journey, what happens when the beast is slain, the day is saved but real life goes on. We hope you will enjoy After the Dragon is Dead by Nathan Anderith.

After the Dragon is Dead is the work of the following talented men and women:

Alison Bushey (Dragon) is enjoying her first foray into radio. She has been acting in Charlottesville for over 13 years. She most recently portrayed Anya Magnifico in Bullet for an Unaccompanied Heart at Four County Players.
Jack Rakes (Priest/Angel) is pleased to be in his first radio play! Almost as pleased as he was when he stopped that alien invasion with his bare hands. He is currently a board member of Gorilla Theater Productions, and a full-time Blacksmith when not doing that. All his love to Kendall, who endures his terrible jokes admirably.
Katharine Meyer (Jennifer) is a recovering actress, Shakespeare nerd, and education policy graduate student. She enjoyed her first podcast immensely, not only for the fun new experience but also the welcome distraction while gestating her first child, Elizabeth. She refuses to leave Charlottesville, and has successfully squandered a decade in this great town.
Kendall Aiguier Stewart (Melody) is so excited to be able to blend her two loves, theater and radio, on this project. Working on it with her third love, Jack, wasn’t too bad either. Find her on stage at Gorilla Theater Productions, and on the air at 106.1 The Corner and 97.5 3 WV. All the thanks to Nathan for the opportunity!
Kurt Meusel (George) has been acting and working other aspects of the theater since 1999, but Dragon represents his first work as a voice-only actor. He’s performed for Live Arts in The Master and Margarita, Animal Farm, and various galas; other favorite shows have included Macbeth and The 39 Steps. Kurt was very excited to work in this new medium, and hopes to do it again someday!
Nathan Anderith (Writer, Director) wants to be the voice in your head. He’s leaving Charlottesville in January for parts unknown, but he’ll always love this town for all the amazing creative opportunities it’s offered and the fantastic people he’s worked with.
Alex Citron, (Writer, Co-Founder-Facilitator of the Playwrights’ Lab) has been a member of the Lab since 2002. He has worked in theater for over forty-five years, as an actor, director, producer, set designer and stage manager. Of the seventeen plays he has written, six have been produced by companies in California, Texas, New York and Virginia. From 2005 until its closing in 2014, Alex was Executive Director of Play On, a Charlottesville community theater.
Cory Capron (Music Composer) is a has written three full-length plays and several shorts, directed and co-directed several shows, and worked in props, sound, costume and creature design. He is a founding member of Gorilla Theater Productions, where he has worked as house composer on many productions. Outside the theater, Cory is a short story author, a singer-songwriter, and occasionally an experimental filmmaker.
Sean Michael McCord (Co-Founder) is a Charlottesville-based playwright, producer, director, and occasional actor. Once upon a time, he was radioactive. He is currently an MFA Playwright at the Hollins Playwrights’ Lab in Roanoke.

The Live Arts Playwrights’ Lab is a free forum for writers of every experience level, in which they share, read, hear, and discuss their work in a community of fellow playwrights. The Lab is dedicated to developing the work of local writers in a fun, creative, supportive setting; and includes opportunities for public staged readings and full productions. The Lab meets on the first and third Monday of each month (except July and August). Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just getting started, there’s a place for you in the Lab! Visit Live Arts The Foundry for more information.

Post production work for After the Dragon was Dead was done by Dan Gould at the Charlottesville Podcasting Network.

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Wake-Up Call: Delegate David Toscano

David Toscano

Sunday Morning Wake-up Call host Rick Moore talks with Virginia State 57th District Delegate David Toscano. Topics include a review of the tie vote in Virginia’s 94th district and bills the delegate plans to introduce in the 2018 session.

The Sunday Morning Wake-up Call is heard on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon.

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Home Grown: First Night VA: Bent Theatre Improv and Chloe Ester

Home Grown: Your Show about Local Art

Today on Home Grown, it’s a special First Night Virginia Show, where we talk to two of the acts that you can catch tonight Downtown during the First Night festivities. First, our fast and furious friend of the show Andy Davis from Bent Theatre Comedy Improv returns to the show. We talk about what it’s like to do improv with First Night audiences and talk @#$% about Jeff Sessions and traitor-to-the-people FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Next, singer-songwriter Chloe Ester visits the show for the first time. She’s a new singer-songwriter, who is nice enough to talk about how she started down that path and how such sad songs can come from such a cheery young person. She also shares a song with us. Remember, even though there’s no booze during First Night, you can always turn our show into a drinking game. We’ll start — drink every time David has to work on Sunday mornings. Speaking of which, welcome to our new guest host, Brandon Lee! Usher in the Georgian calendar new year with this week’s Home Grown: Your Show about Local Art.

Home Grown is heard on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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Apropos Of Something: Ellen & Nancy Are Apropos Of Something Live

Apropos Of Something hosts Ellen Daniels and Nancy Laurence cap the end of 2017 with a live re-broadcast of their show with Christine Mahoney PhD, Prof. of Public Policy and Politics & Founder of the Alight Fund, on investing in refugees to affect positive change; and Phil Jason, a grad student in UVA’s Creative Writing Program and winner of the prestigious Henfield Prize, whose unique personal story empowered him to publish not perish.

Apropos Of Something seeks out guests who are passionate about the arts, politics and society at-large. Co-hosts Ellen Daniels in Charlottesville and Nancy Laurence in New York City chat with experts, activists, and the most interesting people they can find. We guarantee every show will be Apropos Of Something.

Join Ellen and Nancy on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, every Saturday from 10-11 a.m.

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Blokes on the Bench: Week 17 & 18

Blokes on the Bench Host Andy Richardson and the rest of the blokes discuss a very busy week in football, with midweek fixtures again, and special guest David Deaton from Aromas Cafe FC joining us in the studio, we have a crammed 90 minute Special show! We start midweek with Burnley, the star of week 17, moving into 4th spot by Wednesday’s end, could they hold a top four position over the weekend? City having another massive score line against, Crystal Palace continue to find their form against Watford, Leicester enjoy a high scoreline against Southampton, Liverpool drew against West Brom, as did West Ham who faced Arsenal,and Manchester United won a less than convincing game against Bournemouth. Moving into the weekend Leicester got run over by Crystal palace, Huddersfield beat Watford at Vicarage Road, Chelsea played Southampton, Brighton drew to Burnley, Arsenal beat Newcastle, Stoke got done over by West Ham, and Manchester City steam rolled over Spurs, which begs the question, can anyone beat City right now? Manchester United get a win away at West Brom, Liverpool, show everyone why they can be so deadly with a great performance over Bournemouth. That, and the rest of the results!

The blokes are Andy Richardson, Mark Coffman, Alex Gomaa, Christian Galdencio and Daniel Rothamel.

Blokes on a Bench is heard on WPVC 94.7 Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m.

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Wake-Up Call: The Santa Show 2017

Photo: Paul Kelly (Creative Commons)

This week WPVC’s Sunday Morning Wake-up Call host Rick Moore talks with Santa who calls several lucky boys and girls to find out what’s on their Christmas lists.

The Sunday Morning Wake-up Call is heard on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon.

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Home Grown: Phoning In: Second Street Gallery and Sarah White

Home Grown: Your Show about Local Art

Today on Home Grown, David and Leslie get on the phone to talk to two great sets of guests. First, Kristen Chiacchia Executive Director and Chief Curator of Second Street Gallery sits in the studio while New York/C’Ville artist Ivy Nate calls in from the Big Apple. Ivy is one of 12 local artists in Second Street’s current exhibit, Drawn to Charlottesville. With Kristen fresh from NYC and Ivy bouncing back and forth between us, we have a great chance to discuss the difference between big city and small town art. Then David and Leslie call over to Richmond to catch C’Ville ex-pat Sarah White after her first cup of coffee and before she heads over here to rehearse for this year’s Sarah White and Friends Christmas Show at the Southern Cafe and Music Hall. Sarah’s been doing the show for fifteen years or more making it a bona fide Charlottesville holiday tradition. Who says we can’t get into the holiday spirit in between strident attacks at racism. Remember, say “Okay” to a white Christmas but “No Way!” to white supremacy. We’re keeping it holly jolly real on this week’s Home Grown: Your Show about Local Art.

Home Grown is heard on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.