Gallery 5 board member Steve Kowalski stopped by the Daily Gazette podcast to discuss "Place Your Bets on Art," a Pop-Up with Purpose exhibit running from June 5 to 7 at the Electric City Apartments, 236 State Street in Downtown Schenectady.

More than 40 artists will showcase their paintings, sculptures, photographs, collages, prints, and lithographs at this free event.

The two artists in the podcast studio, Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. Program Director Shenandoah Briere and Kowalski discuss the creation of art, their journeys into the art world as Stan Hudy, Daily Gazette Business Editor, listens...artfully.

Have a suggestion for a guest? Email the show at stanandshen@gmail.com

The Stan and Shen Show is available on all of your favorite streaming platforms.

Chris Hunter, President of MiSci, the Museum of Innovation and Science left us too soon.
Taken just weeks ago at the age of 54, Hunter was as knowledgeable as he was helpful to anyone and everyone who needed a question answered or needed a hand.

Daily Gazette writer, Bill Buell, who spends the majority of his time as the Schenectady County historian was invited into the podcast studio to talk about his legacy and more.

Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. Program Director and podcast co-host Shenandoah Briere recalled her experience with Hunter and talked of his accomplishments within the Electric City circles.

It is a step away from the normal banter back and forth on The Stan and Shen Show, but the co-hosts felt it would be fitting to remember Chris along with his accomplishments reflected by another person the pair know and admire in Bill Buell.

Shenan and I both think we work hard... nope!
Kayla Ek, the brain trust behind two Nightmare Market events on Jay Street and beyond in Schenectady, stays awake at night thinking about things different and unusual.
She is the creator, curator, graphic designer, and genius behind the event that invites the different, the weird, and more to the Electric City three times a year... for now!
Just days away from the May Nightmare Market, she talks about the growth, the support, and the joy in this event that is so different, you HAVE to see it to believe it!

Schenectady Light Opera Company will close out its 99th season beginning Friday with ‘American Idiot,’ a rock opera driven by the music of the alt-rock band Green Day, as young adults react to the events of 9/11.

Shenandoah Briere and I were fortunate and grateful to host co-director Michaela Torres and actor Adrienne Parker, who plays the role of 'Whatshername' in the podcast studio before opening night.

The 30-somethings in the room, all outnumbering Stan, recounted where they were on 9/11, how their lives changed, and what this musical, rock-opera, and the music of Green Day elicits from them.

It does get heavy at times, including when Torres vividly recounts waiting for a phone call from New York while still living with her very pregnant mother on 9/11.

But not for long. It's a music, reflective look at politics and society, along with a short listen to what's in store at American Idiot at SLOC.

Like finding more eyes on a potato, the entries to this year's Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp's [DSIC] annual Tater Trot keep growing.

Daily Gazette Business Editor Stan Hudy sat down with DSIC Promotions Coordinator Shenandoah Briere and talked about all things potato - in food form, in dog form, and in song and taste for this episode of The Stan and Shen Show.

The April 25 event begins at 11 a.m., and the spud run isn't over until 3 p.m., giving attendees plenty of time to visit all 17 participants to try a 3-ounce potato-based dish sample for $1.

Tater Trot participants will be able to vote for the most spud-tacular dish, along with the dishes they thought were
had the best presentation, creativity, and flavor.

There is other food news as Stewart's delivers new flavors, and honestly, one was a dud.

Email the show at StanandShen@gmail.com for more show ideas and nice things to say!

Kristen Hislop is no stranger to running, including road running and marathon running, as well as managing operations at the annual Delightful Run for Women 5 K on May 30.

She brought her running shoes and expertise into the podcast studio to challenge Shen for this year's race, which in turn became a challenge for Stan; he accepted.

Now the race is on.

The hour raced by quickly as the trio talked about the sport, the race, and how the female-only race empowers women with the assistance of friends, families, and runners like Stan, who can take part in the 'Lift Her 5k' virtual race.

Stay tuned for training updates and how close Stan can make it to Shen's final race time!

The links:

Run for Women: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Albany/DelightfulRunForWomen

Lift Her 5k: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Albany/LiftHer5K

Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro co-owner Chris Sule loves music, food, and people ... all have come together as his vision of the upstairs Van Dyck Music Club has been revitalized and will be celebrated throughout April, National Jazz Appreciation Month.

The podcast hosts, Stan Hudy and Shenandoah Briere, stopped by Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro to sit with Chris and talk about music, food, a lot about food, the upcoming shows at Van Dyck Music Club, and more.

The hour went quickly, filled with laughs, memories, and more.

Of course, just like jazz, the podcast is very fluid and free-flowing. Enjoy.

The Stan and Shen Show was on the road, stopping in at the St. Luke Daily Bread Pantry before a lunchen attended by several of the organizations that make up Schenectady Shares, and benefit from the organization's buying and distribution power.

Guests this week included Larry Lewis, President, Concern for the Hungry; Macella Dietz, Treasurer, St. Luke's Daily Bread Pantry, Schenectady County legislator, and Schenectady Shares co-chair Mike Aragosa and Jacqueline Clute, Executive Director of the St. Luke's Daily Bread Food Pantry.

Each guest provided their own special insight to food insecurity within Schenectady County and the importance of the Schenectady Shares program as it prepared to kick off its 2026 campaign, 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors' to gain 30,000 pounds of food and $30,000 for the organization through mid-April.