Backyard OASIS - Older Adults Seeking, Inspiring, Serving cover art

Backyard OASIS - Older Adults Seeking, Inspiring, Serving

Backyard OASIS - Older Adults Seeking, Inspiring, Serving

By: Greenfield Community College
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Backyard OASIS reaches out to older adults who seek knowledge to help them live more thoughtfully, healthily, and happily; who hope to inspire others with their ideas; and who serve their communities in the interest of greater good. Join us frequently for wide-ranging conversations with a diversity of people who are growing older...and want to talk about it!

Created by Dennis Lee, Denise Schwartz, Chad Fuller, Christine Copeland, and Judy Raper

Produced by Alex Audette at Greenfield Community College's Teaching and Learning Innovation Center

Contact us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com and check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BackyardOasisPodcast

Greenfield Community College 2023
Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 91 – Henry Balzarini Hosts What’s the Weather? A chat with Dave Hayes the Weather Nut
    Jun 25 2026

    Dave Hayes does weather with a personal touch and an entertaining writing style. Since August 2011, he’s been providing daily and very entertaining weather forecasts for western Massachusetts.

    We discuss his passion for weather and learn a bit more about the man behind the forecast, including an original guitar solo.

    Here are the ways you can access Dave Hayes’ weather reports:

    Mobile App (iPhone): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-weather-nut/id6751524291

    Mobile App (Android): Set for release Summer of 2026

    Website: https://westernmassweather.com

    Newsletter: https://westernmassweather.com/homepage/dhtwn-nutletter-signup

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WesternMassWeather X/Twitter: https://x.com/DHTheWeatherNut

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davehayestheweathernut

    BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/dhtheweathernut.bsky.social

    Threads: https://www.threads.com/@davehayestheweathernut

    Be sure to subscribe to the Backyard Oasis Podcast and check back regularly for new episodes as well as other enriching GCC content!

    Hosted by Henry Balzarini

    Produced by Alex Audette

    Recorded at Greenfield Community College in Franklin County, MA

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 90 – Denise Schwartz Hosts Writers Read Us Stories They Love: Joan Livingston's "The Unforgiving Town"
    Jun 17 2026

    "A week after his release from prison, Al Kitchen is found dead beside a bicycle on a back country road. Al served 18 years in prison for beating a well-liked man to death during a botched robbery, but most everyone in this small town is unwilling to forgive him. Nobody feels Al could have changed from the reckless guy they knew although he believes he has. They prefer he died in prison, and they make sure he knows that upon his return to Holden..."

    On this edition of Writers Read Us Stories They Love, Denise Schwartz sits down with mystery & thriller writer Joan Livingston to discuss the writing process for her new novel, The Unforgiving Town, as well as share some choice excerpts from the text. How did Joan conceptualize a sequel to The Sacred Dog? Why return to Holden, one of Joan's fictional Western Massachusetts towns, specifically? And of course, how does one make a character as flawed as Al Kitchen relatable to the reader? Sit back, relax, and listen on for answers to those questions and more, as well as several thrilling passages from Joan Livingston's new novel: The Unforgiving Town.

    Purchase The Unforgiving Town here:

    https://www.amazon.com/Unforgiving-Town-Sequel-Sacred-Dog-ebook/dp/B0GR1FWRS3

    Be sure to subscribe to the Backyard Oasis Podcast and check back regularly for new episodes as well as other enriching GCC content!

    Hosted by Denise Schwartz

    Produced by Alex Audette

    Recorded at Greenfield Community College in Franklin County, MA

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 89 – Henry Balzarini Hosts Creativity and Its Place in Our Lives: A Conversation with Jan Maher
    Jun 10 2026

    Jan Maher is a local writer, creator and co-founder of LAVA, a community arts center in Greenfield MA. In this episode, we learn more about Jan, her life and art. And we explore Jan’s thoughts about creativity.

    Jan’s latest play, Phoenix will be read at LAVA on June 5. On the Boards: "A Rare Sight" + "Phoenix" - The LAVA Center

    She will also adapt her stepfather’s classic sci-fi story “I, Gardener” as a radio show with a live audience at LAVA on June 17.

    Here’s a link to her website where you can read more about her and subscribe to get email updates: Jan Maher

    Be sure to subscribe to the Greenfield Community College Backyard Oasis Podcasts and check back regularly for new episodes as well as other enriching GCC content!

    Hosted by Henry Balzarini

    Produced by Alex Audette for Greenfield Community College in Franklin County, MA

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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