My guest today will be very familiar to my Princeton audience. Pam Hersh is Jersey through and through and has been a part of the fabric of this town for over 50 years. She probably is best known for her writing, both for the Princeton Packet and now for TAPinto Princeton. Her column, Loose Ends, is essential reading for anyone wanting to feel truly connected to this town!

But of course, there is much more to Pam than what we’ve grown to appreciate through her writing or her penchant for walking everywhere, i.e., that she is colorful both in her writing and in her personal style.

Pam shared that she wasn’t a natural born writer in the Hemingway sense, but rather as a story teller who can take her readers from point A to point B, while keeping them intrigued along the way.

Luckily, she survived a potentially debilitating hand injury (learning to type with her left hand during recovery) and, counter-intuitively, used that setback to kickstart her writing career.

We hear about how as a child, Nakita Khrushchev gave Pam nightmares, inspiring her to learn Russian. And how later, as a writer, her investigations into cancer-causing water contamination led to a nationwide exposé. (And of course, a lot of stuff in between!)

One of the main take aways from our conversation is Pam’s concern for the future of local journalism. She wishes more people would recognize its value and its importance in keeping communities educated, connected, engaged and aware.

With all the negativity bombarding us every day, it’s Pam’s goal to focus on the positive, writing about people who are making good and constructive contributions to their community. (And to do it while they’re still alive!)

Please join us in our conversation!

Today we are once again talking with Hiram L. Smith, PhD, Associate Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at Bucknell University. My last podcast with Hiram felt like a cliffhanger…we barely scratched the surface of the language subject matter! Fortunately, Hiram was willing to come back for more.

Before I get into the description however, I want to provide any potential listeners with a warning. We cover some aspects of language that some people may find triggering. In the latter part of our conversation, we are discussing Hiram’s upcoming book: an academic analysis of the history and usage of the “N” word. I emphasize that we talk aboutthe word in an analytical and historic way; its linguistic origins and the evolution of its usage over time. If you find this troubling, do not listen to this episode and try any of my others.

With that PSA out of the way, other things we talk about include Hiram’s brief (and sadly very frustrating) stint working as an expert lexicographer on the Oxford Dictionary of African American English (ODAAE) which is intended to be an in-depth resource for defining terms unique to African American English. We hear about his frustrations, but he also shares a few of those terms, their history and usage.

We also continue our discussion, started in our first episode, about the misuse, misunderstanding and misappropriation of some of these uniquely AAE words and phrases.

Hiram also discusses “semantic bleaching”, the “recency illusion” and many other linguistic concepts that were certainly new to me!

It was really funny to learn that language “purists” have been complaining about how young people are ruining the language since the time of Plato! But as Hiram told me, the evolution of language is neither good nor bad, it is merely inevitable.

Once again, I felt like I’d attended a free (and very fun) “Master Class” in linguistics!

Please join us in our conversation!

Note: I dedicate this episode to my recently deceased brother Steve. He was a wonderful man, a best friend, a great supporter of my podcast, and is missed terribly. More on that in the recording.

Today’s guest is Hiram L. Smith, PhD, Associate Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at Bucknell University. I met Hiram in a most unusual way (you’ll have to listen to hear the story) but I am so glad I did!

Our conversation covered Hiram’s childhood and youth as a black boy/young man in racist Oklahoma. Some of his tales are hair-raising. But coming from a loving family with an emphasis on learning, and his being a smart kid, the groundwork was laid for a bright future.

Turns out, it was a hard-fought battle, with some setbacks along the way. But Hiram persevered with some help frommentors and ultimately from friends who said, “Why is a smart guy like you hanging out with the likes of us?”. (Sounds like a movie plot, right?)

Hiram’s interest in language started at an early age, and it carried him to Penn State where his dissertation focused on Creole languages. I learned a lot from this part of our discussion!

Now an Associate Professor at Bucknell, Hiram shared with me insights about languages; how they evolve over time and place and continue to evolve. We also talk about the origins of dialects and current misconceptions about dialects and what they mean.

Once we were done talking, I felt like I’d attended a free “Master Class” session! Plus, we had a lot of fun.

Please join us in our conversation! I'm certain you too will learn something new!

When we first meet a person, or even after we have become familiar with them as they currently “are”, we usually have no idea what came before. How did they get to where they aretoday? What other experiences played a role in their current selves? That’s what is so fun for me in doing these podcasts; hearing the life experiences that build the people around us.

Today’s guest is a good example of this. Everyone in Princeton certainly knows who Michelle Pirone Lambros “is”;she’s one of our Council Members. We know what she strives for: strong businesses, better transit and accessibility,creating a more livable community, and on and on. And we see her at countless events, supporting local organizations. But that is her public persona. I was delighted to learn about the historic Michelle, and an impressive history it is!

From her Italian roots, growing up in Princeton, to building political connections and businesses in California and Florida, and creating unbelievable entrepreneurial endeavors (food festivals anyone?) in Mexico and Kuwait; her story is one of energy, ideas and purpose! Very inspiring!

I am so glad Michelle went full circle, ending up back here in Princeton, and using that “Type A” energy to tirelessly serve our community!

Please join us in our conversation!

I am very excited to share my latest conversation with all of you! Today’s guest is Marc Uys, Executive Director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. To be honest, I am a music appreciator, but one with zero musical talent myself. So, talking with Marc was a bit intimidating!

But we had a wonderful conversation, and I could have talked with him for hours! (I think perhaps I did…) I learned of Marc’s origins in South Africa and his passion for the violin from the age of three! My listeners will learn, as I did, of Marc’s fascinating and “dogged” (you’ll get the reference when you listen) musical path through university. Marc tells us of the importance of his time with the South African Youth Orchestra, and later his formation of the Sontonga Quartet. You need to check out some of their recordings at Soundcloud.com. Beautiful! (Google it)

Marc shares how he ultimately ended up in the States, not only performing as a violinist, but as a sought after “harp hauler”! Through joining Symphony in C, a high caliber training orchestra in Philadelphia, Marc met Rossen Milanov, PSO's Music Director, which is how he ended up at the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. We are so glad he did!

Of course, you’ll have to listen to hear the rest of the story...so please join us in our conversation!

To find out more about the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and its programs, go to www.princetonsymphony.org.

Along with listening to the Sontonga Quartet as mentioned above, I also recommend you look for Buskaid. This is a music school dedicated to teaching less privileged musicians in South Africa. During COVID, Marc and the PSO introduced the Princeton community to this wonderful organization through a series of remote concerts. Brilliant! You can find information at www.buskaid.org.za. You can find performances on YouTube.

Once again, my connections have come through with a wonderful guest! A previous guest, Carol Golden, and friend Shelly Yedlin, both had a role in my meeting up with Liz Lempert. Of course, I already knew a bit about Liz because she had been the mayor of Princeton a few years back.

I discovered that, of course, there is so much more to Liz’s story than her stint (albeit great for Princeton!) as Mayor. Liz shares with us her path from California, including Stanford, Oxford, the New York Times DC bureau, Cyc (early AI), NPR’s “Living on Earth”, Princeton Township Committee, Camp Obama and of course, her tenure as Mayor of Princeton Municipality. We learn of her care for the wellbeing of all, with a particular focus on affordable housing. Of course, the story doesn’t stop there and ultimately our paths crossed. (Thank goodness!)

Liz says she’s been so fortunate over the years as each step of her journey seemed to lead to something amazing. I imagine she has lots of bruises because she often said she needed to “pinch herself” to make sure she wasn’t dreaming!

But you’ll have to listen to hear the rest of the story...so please join us in our conversation!

Today’s guest, Jamie Kyte Sapoch, is a self-described nonprofit junkie”! I was so grateful to have an opportunity to learn from her, as my nonprofit experience over the last couple of years has been a bit baffling to me!

Jamie is truly an expert in the field of running a not for profit, from governance to capital campaigns, to just working well with teams of truly caring and smart people. Her experience started in DC during the 80’s working with Common Cause on arms control and campaign finance reform. So inspired by the work and the people, she was bitten by the non-profit bug.

Listen in while we talk about her roots in New Jersey, her path from being an art major to the world of nonprofits; from working within organizations such as the Watershed Institute, to overseeing the distribution of major grants at the Bunbury group, to consulting as a board coach and strategist, to doing executive searches. Quite a journey and quite a career!

I was particularly taken by her description of convincing donors to participate in a capital campaign. Rather than looking at is as an imposition, she described it as “giving them a gift, by aligning what’s important to them with the opportunity to help it grow.” Genius!

Jamie advises us to remember “it’s not about you”, to never stop learning and to always search for ways to make a difference. That’s certainly the path she’s chosen.

We had a great conversation! Please join us!

A few of the organizations Jamie has been involved with include:

The Watershed Institute: www.thewatershed.org

• “Keeping water clean, safe and healthy is the heart of our mission.”

T.A.S.K. Trenton Area Soup Kitchen www.trentonsoupkitchen.org

The Burke Foundation www.burkefoundation.org

• The Burke Foundation invests in transformative early childhood initiative to build a cycle of opportunity across generations.

The Chubby’s Project www.thechubbysproject.org

• We are a hyperlocal nonprofit dedicated to food justice and building connections within the Hopewell community.

I feel so lucky that my office was right across the street from the home of today’s guest, because with his wave and a smile, we became acquainted and later, I am happy to say, friends.

Lance Liverman is a true man of the community! He has worked passionately for the benefit of those in need. In fact, his community service has been so impactful, the mayor of Princeton has named a day after him; February 25, 2024, is officially Lance Liverman Day!

Like most of my guests who are involved in community service, Lance got an early start helping others. It was part of his family ethos to care for others and throughout his life, he has taken it to the next level.

Lance tells us about his life and how it led him to serve the community of Princeton in many capacities, especially related to his passion for affordable housing. His positive attitude, gratitude for what he has, and desire to share his bounty are evident in his story. And as he says, giving back gives him a natural “high”!

We had a great conversation and I hope you’ll listen in!