In this AudioFiles episode, we report on environmental advocates’ pushback on a natural pipeline off the south shore of Staten Island that's been given the go-ahead from the NYS DEC. Then, a look at NYC's plan to bring relief to the chronically flood-prone neighborhood of Jewel Streets near the Brooklyn-Queens border. And we hear the story of one New Yorker's endeavor to rehabilitate and rehome red-eared sliders abandoned in NYC to their native habitat in the south. Host: Niamh McAuliffe Producer: Steve Kastenbaum Associate Producer: Rebecca Raghunath Reporters: Steve Kastenbaum, Jarrod Barry, Jenna Post, Bella Week, and Ella Walsh Editors: Richard Yeh and Curtis Fox Audio Engineers: Chad Bernhard and Amber Watson Guests: Gwynne Hogan and Neela Jain Music Credits: Megatrax

Taxpayers across New York State are poised to get inflation refund checks between $150 and $400. But just what do they plan to do with that money?

After sundown, a group of New Yorkers gather in Prospect Park to learn more about one of the city’s most elusive residents: bats. Reported and produced by Niamh McAuliffe Guest: Ronnie Almonte Bat sounds provided by Nic Comparato

In this AudioFiles episode, we get the final arguments from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, head to Prospect Park after dark to hear from flying mammals, and ask New Yorkers what they plan to do with their inflation refund checks. Host: Rebecca Raghunath Producer: Mary Beech Associate Producer: Jarrod Barry Reporters: Niamh McAuliffe, Steve Kastenbaum, Jarrod Barry, Tyler Paz, and Mary Beech Editors: Richard Yeh and Curtis Fox Audio Engineers: Chad Bernhard and Amber Watson Guests: Grace Rauh, John Samuelsen, and Annie McDonough Music Credits: Felix Toma, Citokid, Felix Mannherz, and Michael Bibo

In this season premiere of AudioFiles, we explore the proliferation of sports betting apps, check in on NYC voters ahead of the mayoral election, visit a popular night market at Fordham Plaza, and drop in on urban keepers in Battery Park. Host: Steve Kastenbaum Producer: Tyler Paz Associate Producer: Niamh McAuliffe Reporters: Rebecca Raghunath, Jarrod Barry and Mary Beech Guests: Emily Swanson, Kristin LaBuz and Jane Carbonaro Editors: Richard Yeh and Curtis Fox Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard Music Credits: Felix Thoma, David Casas Berges and Yurii Tereshchenko For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

Auditioning in New York City is challenging, especially for a living. For foreign-born artists, attempting to succeed on the Great White Way is even more complicated. In this episode, Costa Rican actress Nea Somogyi takes us behind the curtain of the auditioning world in the eyes of an international performer. Content Warning: This episode may include some mature language. Hosted and reported by Max Martinez Villalobos. Reported and produced by Owen Racer. Edited by Curtis Fox. Engineering support by Chad Bernhard and Amber Watson. Music by Owen Racer and Kevin Macleod. Special thanks to the cast and crew of “Suitcase of Dreams, Next Stop: New York”.

Reporters Lauren Rapp and Perry Gregory explore what it's like to create a new life in New York City after decades of incarceration. Older adults are a growing population in US prison systems. When these individuals get out, they have to deal with a whole new set of problems: understanding technology, finding housing, and navigating the city. In this episode, “What’s is Like” reporters visit the Marcus Garvey Supportive Housing apartment complex in Brooklyn, New York, where all the residents are older adults adjusting to a life of freedom. Please be advised this episode mentions violent crime and adult language. Credits Reported, produced, voiced, and edited by Lauren Rapp and Perry Gregory. Edited by Curtis Fox. Studio Recording and Audio Engineering by Chad Bernhard and Amber Watson. Featured music: “Lakkalia” and “Only Lara”— all by Blue Dot Sessions. [https://www.sessions.blue/] Graphic Design by Shira Golden Kresch

Every day, pet owners around the country choose euthanasia to prevent prolonged suffering for their animal companions. But what happens when a person wants that same peace? In this episode, we explore what it’s like to live without the right to die. This episode deals with death and medical aid in dying. Please take care while listening. Credits: Hosted, narrated, produced and reported by Shira Golden. Produced by Pamela Appea. Edited by Meg Cramer. Engineering support by Chad Bernhard. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Thank you to Stacy and Dr. Dani McVety for sharing your stories with us. Special thanks to Curtis Fox, Cynthia Rodriguez, Mitra Kaboli, Amber Watson, Libby Lussenhop, Thaddeus Pope, Ilana Kresch, the folks at A Better Exit, and everyone else we spoke to for this story. We’d also like to thank our colleagues in the Narrative Podcast Workshop at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, Fall 2024. Music: “Durna Vila” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cigar Singles” by Blue Dot Sessions “Fissure Forming” by Blue Dot Sessions “Campsite 9” by Blue Dot Sessions

The first time Kathy Collins voted in person, she had to tell someone else who she was voting for. We take privacy for granted when it comes to voting, but for many disabled Americans, that hasn’t been the case. Join us for the lead up to election day as we talk to Kathy and Dr. Sharon McLennon Wier about what it’s like to vote without privacy in New York – and what activists are doing about it. This show was written and produced by Sasha Linden Cohen and Cullen Fagan. It was edited by Meg Cramer, with thanks to Curtis Fox and Chad Bernhard for help with sound engineering. Thank you to Kathy Collins and Dr. Sharon McLennon Wier for sharing their stories, as well as Anna Humphrey and CIDNY for letting us come to work with them. Some of our music was composed by Sasha Linden Cohen, and the rest was sourced from Blue Dot Sessions. The host was Cullen Fagan. Photo Credit: Sasha Linden Cohen Photo Caption: Kathy votes early on Halloween 2024.

In this AudioFiles special bonus episode, we meet New Yorkers in their element, from the studio to the stage to among the pigeons. CREDITS: Managing Producer: Melanie Marich Producer: Melanie Marich Host: Graham Hartmann Reporters: Perry Gregory and Jesse King. Editors: Kalli Anderson and Richard Yeh Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard, with help from Amber Watson For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

On this bonus episode of AudioFiles, we’re showcasing audio documentaries about belonging, from the people and things that make us feel seen to the places that turn into home. First, meet the Latina women from the Bronx transforming New York’s nightlife. Reporter Laura Rojas Aponte takes us to the club to hear from Ultraviolet, Dana Lu, Dada Cozmic, and others who are making waves as DJs. K-pop’s demand in the US has skyrocketed. But, critics say the genre is guilty of cultural appropriation. Reporter Marissa Braswell dives into K-Pop’s history, its cultural connections to Black culture, and the ongoing debate between appreciation and appropriation. For more than 10 years, the Center for African and Diaspora Dance has been serving Brooklyn with a selection of dance and music classes rooted in Africa. But for many who dance there, the studio is more than just a place to move their body. Reporter Hannah Kathryn Valles explores the rhythms of CUMBE. This episode was hosted and produced by Melanie Marich.

On this bonus episode of AudioFiles, we’re showcasing audio documentaries about defiance, and the ways people challenge, disrupt, or reinterpret traditional systems, spaces, and expectations. A Kansas public school teacher punked a state house committee considering a voucher bill. It went viral garnering two million views and over 200,000 likes. Currently and formerly incarcerated writers explore how the process of writing, as well as the core tenants of fiction itself, are disrupted by the realities of incarceration. To close the show, reporter Mike Matteo hops a fence with some teens and tries to find out why so many people like hanging out at cemeteries and mausoleums, especially teens, and there’s no better way to learn than by doing. This episode was hosted and produced by Melanie Marich.

On this bonus episode of AudioFiles, we’re showcasing audio documentaries about legacy, and the ways our pasts shape present realities. New York City's street racing culture has veins that run deep. Over several generations, black and brown youth have found community, success, and wealth, in the elicit side of motorsport. But in the wake of a new NYPD crackdown after a deadly crash, will this community go under the radar or step into the spotlight? When firefighter Jared Lloyd died in a gruesome apartment fire, it raised questions about housing safety and unchecked development in the Town of Ramapo Here’s a closer look at the politics of code enforcement and a culture of compliance. What happens when unsafe conditions turn fatal? Adults conceived through the anonymous IVF industry are grappling with the consequences of modern technology that has effectively ended donor anonymity. As DNA testing and online databases reveal genetic connections, many are navigating complex emotions and legal uncertainties while seeking to understand their origins. Reporter Emily Davis explores the end of anonymity, and what it means for her personally. Content Warning: Strong Language and Violence This episode was hosted and produced by Melanie Marich.

In this season finale of AudioFiles, we meet an Ecuadorian dance crew keeping their culture alive, what a recent court decision means for subway safety in New York, and visit some legendary Christmas lights with an electrical engineer who teaches us the true meaning of Christmas: protecting the environment. CREDITS: Managing Producer: Melanie Marich Producer: Marissa Braswell Host: Graham Hartmann Assistant Producer: Evelin Fajardo-Alvarez Reporters: Perry Gregory, Nathaly Cisneros, and Melanie Marich Editors: Kalli Anderson, Richard Yeh and Maggie Freleng Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard, with help from Amber Watson Music Credits: Beat Mekanik, Jason Shaw, The United States Marine Band and hollis nacco For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

In this episode of AudioFiles, we celebrate the New Yorkers who survive and shape the urban landscape. We visit a Manhattan exhibit celebrating Shirley Chisholm, her political life, and how her legacy connects to Kamala Harris. We’ll also dive into Eric Adams’ war on rats, check in with street vendors on Roosevelt Avenue facing police crackdowns, and break down a new bill concerning broker fees in New York’s housing market. CREDITS: Managing Producer: Melanie Marich Producer: Jesse King Host: Evelin Fajardo-Alvarez Assistant Producer: Graham Hartmann Reporters: Marissa Braswell, Nathaly Cisneros, Melanie Marich Guests: Rachel Kahn Editors: Kalli Anderson, Richard Yeh, Cynthia Rodriguez and Maggie Freleng Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard, with help from Amber Watson Music Credits: Holizna, Beat Mekanik, Jahzzar, And The Crypts Special thanks to Gwynne Hogan. For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

For this episode of AudioFiles, we’re looking ahead to election day. We talk to voters deciding whether to vote in Puerto Rico or where they live in the mainland United States, check in on local congressional races that could help tip the balance of power in Congress, and talk to advocates for a ballot proposition to amend the New York state constitution. Plus, we’ll meet a couple making 50’s style doo-wop music in the name of Satan. CREDITS: Managing Producer: Melanie Marich Producer: Graham Hartmann Host: Marissa Braswell Assistant Producer: Perry Gregory Reporters: Jesse King, Evelin Fajardo-Alvarez, Ana Garcia-Colón and Graham Hartmann Guests: Gabbi Timmis, Brent Morden, and Candace Pedraza Editors: Kalli Anderson and Richard Yeh Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard, with help from Amber Watson Music Credits: Jason Shaw, Holiznacc0, Mathieu Tissandier, Peppa Pig Edit And Mcgrogo For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

What was once old can be new again. In this episode of AudioFiles, we’re looking at the revival of congestion pricing, New Yorkers who practice the ancient sport of gladiator fighting, and Irish descendants keeping the Irish language alive in Queens. CREDITS: Managing Producer: Melanie Marich Producer: Evelin Fajardo-Alvarez Host: Marissa Braswell Assistant Producer: Nathaly Cisneros and Graham Hartmann Reporters: Jake Duffy, Jesse King, Steve Kastenbaum and Perry Gregory Editors: Kalli Anderson, Richard Yeh and Maggie Freleng Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard, with help from Amber Watson Music Credits: National Sweetheart, Rafael Krux, Holiznacc0, And Beat Mekanik. For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

For this season premiere of AudioFiles, we explore the rising tension on New York college campuses as they crack down on student protests and gatherings. Then, we dive into a key ballot measure that could shape New York City’s future. Later, we feature an incoming boat captain whose mission is to protect the Hudson River from polluters. Managing Producer: Melanie Marich Producer: Evelin Fajardo-Alvarez Host: Graham Hartmann Assistant Producer: Marissa Braswell Reporters: Perry Gregory, Jesse King, and Steven Kastenbaum Guests: Sophie Hurwitz, Elana Frankel, and Renee Huff Editors: Kalli Anderson and Richard Yeh Audio Engineer: Chad Bernhard Music Credits: Jason Shaw, Holiznacc0, Mathieu Tissandier, Peppa Pig Edit And Mcgrogo For more info on AudioFiles: www.audiofilespodcast.com

Audiofiles is proud to share another episode of our narrative podcast, "What's it Like?" Reporters Rebecca Rand and Caroline Handel explore planning for the unplannable–how do you hold on to what’s important to you when you’re losing touch with reality? It starts with a conversation with a fascinating woman, Elyn Saks. She’s a law professor at UCLA who advocates for the rights of people with severe mental illness. Because SHE knows what it's like.

Audiofiles is proud to share an episode of our narrative podcast, "What's it Like?" from reporters Sari Soffer Sukenik and Maja Clasen. Divorce is seemingly ubiquitous in the U.S. But what happens when divorce is not an option for you in your community? In this episode, we follow Flatbush Girl: a woman on a mission to free women from their unwanted marriages. Her shameless pursuit to upend the systems stacked against Orthodox Jewish women are impressive. But are they sustainable? Please be advised that this episode contains mentions of domestic abuse that may be difficult for some listeners. "What's it Like?" is a production of the New York City News Service, from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Hosted by Sari Soffer Sukenik. Reported, produced, and sound designed by Sari Soffer Sukenik and Maja Clasen. Edited by Meg Cramer. Studio recording and sound engineering by Chad Bernhard. Special thanks to Curtis Fox, Rebecca Rand, and Caroline Handel for your helpful feedback. This episode's intro and outro music comes from the song “Hills”, by Mello C. This episode also features portions of the songs: “Post Drone” by Uuriter, “Drone Pine” by Blue Dot Sessions, “Parody” by Crowander, “Camp” by Podington Bear, and “Principles in Action” by David Hilowitz, all sourced from FreeMusicArchive.org. This episode also includes “Victory Fanfare" by “Luis Humanoide", sourced from freesound.org. Thanks to Holizna for the use of his song "Bus Stop" at the top of the show. For more "What's it Like?" visit https://podcasts.nycitynewsservice.com/