The New Yorkers Podcast

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Ed Welter. Ed has operated a construction company for 40-plus years; he was the chief dialysis technician at Kings County Hospital and has served as a volunteer at the 9/11 Museum as well as the Woolworth Building. Kelly asks Ed about growing up, and Ed talks about his earliest memories living in Alphabet City, where his Grandfather would come home from work and take baths while listening to Volare in the kitchen! Ed visited the Tenement Museum with his father much later, remembering how much it felt like his grandparents' home. Ed then talks about how his mom fell ill with kidney disease. He tells us how she became the longest-surviving woman on dialysis in the world thanks to Ed being the Youngest dialysis technician, to help support his mother at home. Ed talks about how she founded the American Association for Kidney Patients, and how she traveled to the House of Representatives to get a bill passed to help Americans with dialysis treatment. Ed tells Kelly that 38th Street, the street the recording studio is on, holds a special place in his heart. He tells us how his father's construction company was on 38th Street, how his father met his mother on 38th st, and how he met his wife on 38th St. as well! Ed talks about getting married and moving out to Long Island to raise his family. Kelly asks what it was like to move away from the city. Ed talks about how the culture out on Long Island is very different, and how he never quite felt at home. Ed eventually separates from his wife and moves back to Manhattan, where he begins doing volunteer work for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. He tells us that experience eventually led him to sign up as a volunteer during the opening of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which led him to become a licensed tour guide for the City of New York, which led him to start a tour business with the Woolworth Building. He talks about how all of the best things in his life came from volunteering. Finally, Kelly asks Ed to tell the heartfelt story of the birdhouse that was left as a memorial to commemorate a victim of the 9/11 attacks. But above all else; Ed Welter is a New Yorker Kelly's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Book a tour with Ed! https://woolworthtoursnyc.com/ Jae's Social Media: @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and Guest Background (00:01:57) - Growing Up in Alphabet City (00:03:38) - The Tenement Museum and Family Memories (00:07:12) - Mother's Battle with Kidney Disease and Dialysis Legacy (00:10:17) - Learning Dialysis as a Child and TV Feature (00:11:39) - Life in Manhattan, Marriage, and Long Island Years (00:13:47) - Returning Home to New York City (00:15:30) - Billionaires Row and City Growth (00:17:11) - Morningside Heights and Cathedral of St. John the Divine Tours (00:18:37) - The Vertical Tour and the Sweeper Story (00:20:58) - Surprise Concert with Clapton and Bon Jovi (00:21:55) - Joining the 9/11 Memorial as a Volunteer (00:23:42) - Becoming a Licensed Tour Guide (00:25:17) - Meeting Helen Curry and the Woolworth Building Tours (00:26:07) - Rebuilding the Tour Company After COVID (00:28:38) - Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Smart Homes (00:30:12) - The Tunnel to Towers Run and Stephen Siller's Story (00:33:58) - History and Legacy of the Woolworth Building (00:35:24) - Woolworth's Segregation History and New Tours (00:37:45) - Lighting the Koenig Sphere (00:43:09) - Knicks Parade Thank You (00:43:56) - The Birdhouse Tribute Story (00:48:53) - 25th Anniversary Security and Dignitaries (00:50:57) - Closing Thoughts on New York and Doing Good

On this episode of The New Yorkers Podcast , Kelly Kopp sits down with Dan from All Day NYC for a funny, nostalgic, and very New York conversation about growing up in Bensonhurst and Gravesend, Coney Island summers, Canal Street, pizza, bagels, the subway, viral NYC moments, the Knicks championship parade, and what it really means to be a New Yorker. Dan also shares how All Day NYC got started, some of his favorite viral moments, and his memories of being a 16-year-old high school student in Brooklyn on September 11th, 2001. We also talk about Kelly’s experience surviving a 2017 NYC subway derailment, whether the subway feels safer today, and why this past summer felt like New York had finally found some of its old energy again. Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast (00:04:05) - Living in Brooklyn in the 90s (00:07:09) - Cops Chase Car stereo sellers down Canal Street (00:09:47) - Bay Ridge resident on the high cost of living (00:12:45) - What's the Problem with Chipotle? (00:13:12) - NYC on Social Media (00:14:59) - School Bus Rave (00:15:58) - Riding A One Wheeler In The City (00:18:44) - Raccoons Go Viral (00:19:59) - The Knicks Parade in NYC (00:22:53) - Crazy People Try To Get Through The Woolworth Building (00:23:55) - The Knicks' 53-Year-Old Tattoo (00:24:41) - NYC Mayor on the Summer (00:27:21) - World Cup and Fourth of July celebrations in NYC (00:29:27) - The Summer of Celebrations (00:30:49) - Favorite Pizza Places in NYC (00:33:27) - Pizza on Bleecker Street (00:35:22) - Upper Manhattan's best restaurant, 'Bitcoin Steakhouse' (00:36:34) - Bagels and Drinking Water (00:39:10) - The New York City Water Fountains (00:39:49) - NYC Subway Rider on Safety (00:42:40) - Jumping off the subway in NYC (00:45:18) - What Happened On September 11, 2001 (00:48:22) - What Was It Like To Be In NYC On September 11th? (00:51:05) - The 9/11 memorial in Manhattan (00:53:46) - The Oculus Museum (00:54:38) - A Woman's Talk About 911 (00:55:19) - Questions for New York City Residents (00:55:53) - Top New Yorkers Talk About The City (00:56:56) - Dan on What It Means to Be a New Yorker (00:58:05) - All Day NYC

The New Yorkers are on Summer Vacation this week. So join them as they look back on a previous episode while they look forward to the Halloween season! **************************************** In this episode, Kelly is joined by Zombie Papas Jorge and Todd, the organizers of Thriller NYC! Join them as they introduce themselves. Jorge tells us how he came to New York, and what it was like moving here. Todd, on the other hand, talks about being third-generation from Brooklyn. They tell us about how they met, as well as their costume wedding. They talk about how they found Thriller NYC and how long they've been involved with it. Jorge talks about the founding of Thriller in the West Village Halloween parade. He talks about the first time it was done and what it was like when it first started. He talks about how he initially joined another Thriller group because Thriller NYC was full. Todd talks about how Jorge invited him to join Thriller one year, but not in the way that he had wanted to. Kelly asks about the process of putting together something so massive. Todd talks about the process of how people get tickets and join the group. He goes over what the rehearsals look like as well as what the timetable is like to put on something like that. They both talk about what people are getting out of their ticket. They talk about how it is important for them to form a safe community, and they emphasise moving your body in community, and the healing power that it can have. Jorge and Todd thank Kelly for his viral video of the performance, and they talk about how that helped them get put back on the map and continue post Covid. They also talk about what it feels like to put together this massive project every year, and the cultural impact that it has on the world. They talk about their trip to South Africa and how Thriller even has an impact there. Finally, Kelly asks them some quick fire questions about the dance, the Halloween parade, the costumes, and where to eat after. But, above all else; Jorge and Todd are New Yorkers. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Join Thriller NYC! https://www.thrillernyc.com/ @Thrillernyc Donate to the village Halloween parade! https://halloween-nyc.com/donate/ Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast (00:01:57) - This New York Couple Had A 'Thriller' Wedding (00:05:18) - The Halloween Parade With Thriller (00:05:49) - The Thriller Dance in the NYC Parade (00:09:08) - How To Participate in the Parade Thriller Dance (00:11:52) - The West Village Thriller Parade (00:14:27) - The Memphis Thriller Parade (00:18:47) - The New York Thriller Dance (00:23:18) - Mets Mascots at the Parade (00:25:32) - The Cast of Thriller (00:28:33) - Thriller's Spring Parade (00:30:55) - What Makes The Thriller Dance So New York? (00:34:12) - Dancing To Michael Jackson's Thriller in Mozambique (00:36:21) - The New York City Zombie Parade (00:38:14) - How the Village Halloween Parade Works (00:41:02) - Thriller's NYC Parade (00:41:29) - Village Halloween Parade (00:43:12) - The Halloween Parade in New York (00:43:59) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker (00:46:02) - New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Dan Rimada! He is the founder of Bodega Cats NYC, Author of the book, and started a campaign to pass the first legislation in New York City surrounding Bodega Cats! Kelly asks Dan about growing up! Dan talks about what it was like to grow up in the same neighborhood as The Wu Tang Clan! He talks about going between Brooklyn and Staten Island, and where his parents ended up. Dan asks Kelly about Disney World, and you won't believe the number of times that he's been there! Dan then talks about his love for Cats! He talks about how he first noticed his local bodega's cat during COVID. Kelly and Dan talked about how time slowed during that time, and how they were able to appreciate more of the little things. Dan talks about the New York Tour that he does, and tells Kelly a story about how a cat saved Brooklyn Borough Hall! Kelly asks Dan all about his tours, and Dan talks about where his tours go, who he runs them with, and tells us another great story about a famous New York City Cat! Kelly asks Dan about the Bodega Cats of New York Instagram account. Dan talks about how he originally wanted to keep the account focused on his photos and experiences. But after receiving a lot of requests from other New Yorkers, he decided to start posting submissions. He then talks about how his account got deleted, right at the peak of its growth! Kelly then asks Dan about his Book. Dan talks about how he worked with a cat photographer to go to Bodegas across all 5 boroughs to take pictures and write down the stories of the cats who live there. Kelly asks Dan about some of the stories in the book, and Dan tells him the tale of Zorro and how he earned his name! Kelly and Dan then talk about how Dan started the movement to legalize bodega cats. Dan talks about his initial petition, and the phone call that he received that ended it. Dan talks about the undertaking of changing New York State and City Law. He goes into detail about what the law says, how it's harmful for Bodega Cats, and what his proposal hopes to change. Finally, Kelly asks Dan about his upcoming projects, and Dan tells Kelly about a secret project that has not been announced yet, but he asks for Kelly's help with it on the Podcast! But above all else; Dan Rimada is a New Yorker! Kelly's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Follow Bodega Cats of New York @NewYorkBodegaCats Pre-order the Book: Bodega Cats of New York Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast (00:01:14) - Knicks fans at the game (00:01:48) - White Man at Disney's Florida Resort (00:03:59) - How Jerry Fox Saved Brooklyn Borough Hall (00:06:56) - Jerry Fox on a Plaque (00:08:08) - The Cat That Crossed the Brooklyn Bridge (00:11:01) - Bodega Cat on (00:11:42) - Bodega Cats of New York Instagram Account (00:14:52) - Turkish Street Cats: The Story (00:17:36) - Bodega Cats: The Story (00:18:48) - We Spotted A Bodega Cat (00:22:12) - The Health Inspector Who Scratched His Arm (00:24:53) - Bodega Cat: Good Move (00:27:48) - Donor Donates Cat Cat Boxes to Bodega Cats (00:30:25) - Boca the Bodega Cat Got Stolen (00:33:37) - Blanca the Bodega Cat Spotted on Google Street View (00:35:08) - Bodega Cats: Legalize the Cat (00:38:45) - Linda Rosenthal Introduces Bill to Officially Legalize Bode (00:41:31) - Bodega Cat Archive in New York (00:43:55) - Favorite NYC sandwich (00:45:33) - What They Don't Understand About New York (00:48:19) - Biker Lane Move on the Brooklyn Bridge (00:49:10) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by writer Gabriel Rotello! He is the author of two books: Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men and The CBGB Conspiracy. He became the first openly gay op-ed columnist for a major American newspaper and is the founder of Out Week Magazine. He has also written, directed, and produced dozens of TV documentaries for major networks like HBO, Netflix, and the History Channel. Gabriel talks about growing up in Danbury, Connecticut, and traveling into the city with his older brother when he was 13! Even at that age, he knew he wanted to move to New York when he grew up. Kelly asks him what life was like in New York in the 1970s. Gabriel talks about how Manhattan was a playground for young adults in their early 20s. He tells us how cheap his rent was, describes the decay of the Bowery in great detail, and talks about how wonderful it was to play music at CBGB. Kelly asks Gabriel about CBGB. Gabriel tells us that in the beginning, no one wanted to go there. He describes the "Bowery Bums", the mismanagement of the venue, and its terrible location. He then talks about how it became one of the most famous punk venues in the world. Gabriel talks a bit about his book: The CBGB Conspiracy. He tells Kelly that he actually did not want to write a book about his time in the 70s at first. With the aids epidemic looming over it, he thought it too depressing. But when inspiration struck, while walking along the street one day, he came up with the idea of creating a murder mystery, with CBGB as the background and weaving in famous people of the era, along with his personal experiences. Kelly asks Gabriel a bit about the process of writing, and Gabriel talks about how he was inspired by a past guest of our show, Jonathan Mahler! He talks about reading Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning... and being transported back into that time in his life. Kelly then asks Gabriel what gay life was like back in the day. Gabriel describes the streets of the West Village being filled with shirtless gay men dancing and having the best time on a random Tuesday night. He talks about how there was a feud between the East Village gay community and the West Village gay community. He talks about their differences, what it was like to have one foot in both, and he reflects on how his perception has changed since then. Gabriel then talks a bit about his partner Hap, who passed during the Aids Epidemic. Gabriel had met Hap when he was studying abroad and just happened to run into each other when he moved to New York. Gabriel talked about how Hap showed him the ropes as a newly out man. He talks about how they dated until Hap's passing. Kelly talks about marching on Washington in support of the movement. Gabriel talks about how it inspired him to start Out Week Magazine, and how he invited outing! But above all else; Gabriel Rotello is a New Yorker! Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp on all platforms Buy Gabriel's Book! Gabriel's Social Media: @GabeRotello Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Gabriel Rotello on the Podcast (00:01:57) - Phil Collins on Coming Out in NYC (00:06:02) - Living in the East Village in the 60s (00:09:51) - Punishment for Bowery Bums (00:14:57) - The Talking Heads on Hilly Hill's Death (00:19:50) - Madonna's First Public Gig (00:20:32) - CBGB's Conspiracy is a Novel (00:26:00) - The Making of A Time to Win (00:26:33) - In the Elevator With Steven Spielberg (00:31:42) - Inside The Bowery (00:32:24) - How To Write a Novel (00:33:03) - In the Elevator With Jonathan Harris (00:37:07) - How a dime changed the phone (00:37:24) - Adam Levine on the Gay Scene in New York (00:41:18) - Punk and Disco in the East Village (00:44:13) - In the Elevator With Out Week (00:47:12) - Gabriel on ACT UP and the Gay Community (00:50:54) - What It Means to Be a New Yorker (00:52:47) - How To Find Gabriel Ortello On Social Media

In this Episode, Kelly is joined by Sara Lind! She is the Co-Executive Director of Open Plans: A New York City based advocacy organization working to make streets and public spaces more livable. Sara is a frequent media source on Urban Planning and policy, with appearances on WPIX 11, ABC7, WNYC, and NY1. And she holds a JD from the University of Chicago, an MIA from Columbia SIPA, and a BS from the University of Wisconsin. But above all else… She is a New Yorker! Kelly asks Sara where she's from. Sara and Kelly talk about their Midwestern roots! Sara talks about how she came to New York by way of Chicago. She reflects on the first time she came to New York to look for an apartment and recalls it feeling like home. Sara talks a bit about her career path and how she went from being a corporate lawyer to working in public advocacy. Kelly and Sara talk about New York. Kelly asks Sara about some of the changes that have been taking effect around the city. They talk about Congestion Pricing and how that has been an effective way to alleviate traffic in Midtown. They talk about open streets and how they have been a successful program in helping people feel safer walking in the city. They also talk about how people choose to promote car driving with policy decisions and what those look like. They talk about ways that we can choose to put people first when planning for the city's future. Sara talks about biking in New York. She talks about the importance of May being Bike Month and how it's important for us to make sure that the city continues to be a safe place for bike riders. Kelly talks about how he loved riding Citi Bike during COVID and how it got him to explore even more of the city. Sara and Kelly talk about how they rode their bikes everywhere growing up, and Sara talks about how she wants her kids to feel safe to do the same. Kelly asks Sara about how she gets around the city. Sara talks about how she loves riding the Subway and taking the bus. And with a Citi Bike rack in front of her apartment, she loves to explore the city with them. Kelly also asks Sara about when she thought it was ok for her kids to take public transit on their own. Sara admits that she's far from a helicopter parent, and encouraged her kids to take the subway to go to school and visit friends. Sara tells us about outdoor dining in New York City. She talks about what the program was like before COVID in 2019. Then she tells us how COVID completely changed the restaurant business and how outdoor dining brought some great positives but also negatives. Kelly then asks about the current program, and she explains the sticky situation that lawmakers put restaurant owners in when they passed the latest legislation. Finally, Kelly asks Sara some quickfire questions about her favorite neighborhood, favorite way to get around the city and her favorite local restaurant. But above all else; Sara Lind is a New Yorker! Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Follow Open Plans NYC! @openplansnyc Jae's Social Media @StudioJae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet Open Plans Executive Director Sarah Lind (00:04:11) - Married to a New Yorker in the 1980s (00:08:41) - Knicks star on the team's success (00:09:13) - Mayor Bill de Blasio on Open Plans (00:12:29) - Congestion Pricing (00:16:36) - "It's a nice little era for the Knicks," (00:16:51) - Biking in New York (00:19:41) - How New Yorkers get around the city (00:22:28) - Slowing the Trash on the Streets (00:26:13) - Low-Traffic Neighborhoods (00:31:34) - People talk about Park Avenue's redesign (00:34:29) - Outside dining in New York (00:38:58) - Living on the Upper West Side (00:41:02) - What Made You Engaged in Urban Policy? (00:42:41) - How Safe Do You Feel in New York? (00:43:55) - Favorite NYC restaurant or food spot? (00:45:54) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker

On this Episode, Kelly is joined by the one and only: Ricki Lake! She is a TV and film actress, producer, and television show host. You can see her star in Hairspray, or host her Ricki Lake talk show, which ran for 12 seasons and aired over 2,000 episodes! Kelly starts by asking Ricki where she was born. Ricki tells him about growing up and going to school in Westchester and the city. She talks about taking the train in to Manhattan to go to a performing arts school. She and Kelly try to figure out if they share a mutual connection from her high school. Ricki talks about her parents' family business and how she was a true New Yorker. Ricki then talks about how 9/11 affected her life trajectory. She talks about living in the West Village at the time and witnessing the plane fly down the Hudson River. She talks about how her home birth was such a powerful experience for her, and that mixed with the events and her contract ending influenced her to move to LA. Ricki then talks about how she ended up moving back to New York 20+ years later, when her house burned down in the Malibu fires. She talks about her house and what she was doing when the fires started. She tells us how she and her husband stayed to try to fight the fire and save their home, but ultimately decided to leave everything behind. She talks about how difficult it was to rebuild, and she talks about all of the things that she's lost in the process. Kelly then asks her about her move back to New York. Ricki talks about how she had a feeling that she didn't want to stay in LA anymore. She talks about how she got the opportunity to spend a few months living in Chelsea at a friend's apartment and how she was able to rediscover the city that way. Kelly asks her about her necklace, and Ricki talks about how she was able to obtain some of the ashes from her house and create a diamond from it, symbolizing her rebirth. Kelly talks with Ricki about Hairspray! Ricki talks about her casting process and how she went from auditioning for a movie because of a flyer up at her school to getting the lead role in the movie musical. She talks about working with John Waters and Divine, and how the whole cast became a family. Kelly then asks her about her Ricki Lake Talk show, and she gives him the inside scoop on how she got the role. Kelly then asks her about some of her other work in documentary film, dancing with the stars, and her second TV show, The Ricki Lake Show. She talks about how documentary filmmaking became a personal passion of hers. She talks about how The Business of Being Born still helps new mothers through childbirth. She tells Kelly about how much she loved getting to do Dancing with the Stars, even though she avoided doing it for so long. Kelly let her know that he thought she should have won her season, but Ricki accepted her third-place position. Ricki then talks about why she wanted to go back and do another talk show. She talks about what she was hoping would be different and how that didn't end up being the case. But she was grateful to win an EMMY for her work, but laments that she lost it in the fire. Finally, Kelly has a surprise that he'd been saving for Ricki all show. He tells her and she is absolutely shocked and delighted. But above all else; Ricki Lake is a New Yorker Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Ricki Lake's Social media @RickiLake Jae's Social Media @StudioJae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - Ricki Lake on Being a New Yorker (00:02:19) - Ricky on 9/11 (00:06:15) - Cannizzaro on 9/11 (00:08:57) - Ricky on Starting a Talk Show at 24 (00:12:58) - One New Yorker's Story of The Fire (00:14:56) - Malibu Firefighter on the Fire (00:20:16) - A Broadway Star Gets Her Back (00:24:14) - Katie Levine on Broadway's (00:26:37) - Jennifer Aniston on Hairspray (00:27:04) - Jay Leno on Hairspray (00:28:05) - Fat Girl In John Waters' 'The Fat Girl' (00:30:19) - Tracy Turnblatt on Working With John Waters (00:32:37) - John Waters on Dancing in Hairspray (00:34:09) - Dancing With the Stars... Robin Williams (00:37:42) - "Go Knicks!" Fans at tonight's Manhattan Henge (00:38:28) - Ricki Lake on Her Second Talk (00:42:21) - Ricki Lake On Her First Ricki Lake Show (00:44:21) - Kelly on Ricki Lake's Dating Game (00:46:30) - Donnie Wahlberg on Hairspray (00:47:16) - I Had The Best Plastic Surgery Ever (00:51:21) - Ricki Lake Gets Real About Her Love For Cleveland (00:51:58) - Mickey Lake on Taking the Subway (00:53:30) - Ricky Lake: It's an Honor to Be a New Yorker (00:54:21) - The New Yorkers: Episode 291

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Alan van Capelle! He is the executive director of Friends of the High Line, the former deputy comptroller for the City of New York, and the chief architect of New York’s historic marriage equality bill. Kelly asks Alan where he's from. Alan talks about growing up on Long Island and realizing that he was gay. He talks about pretending to be Miss America while hearing his parents argue about him playing Soccer! Alan then talks a bit about his twin sister, and is surprised to learn that Kelly is a twin as well! Alan talks about his journey through college: how he wanted to be an opera singer, and then worked in medical unions, and later decided to go into community organizing and politics. He then tells the story about how he went from speaking at the first openly gay state representatives' inauguration to being the executive director of the Pride Agenda! Kelly and Alan talk about political activism, and Kelly describes the time he took a bus trip up to Washington, D.C. in 1993 to be a part of the march on Washington. He tells us about how their trip was almost canceled because of threats from the KKK. He describes the tension as they took the trip, and talks about how transformative of an experience it was. Alan then talks about the importance of joy in hard times. As Executive Director of the High Line, It's important to him that in this fight against fascism, we center joy, and he hopes that people can find that on the High Line this pride. Kelly asks Alan about the events that are going on this summer. Alan talks about Musical Theater Piano Karaoke on Mondays, and how everyone has been super excited for that. He talks about the plant sale that they held, where people had the chance to buy one of a kind plants that are not available anywhere else. He talks about the Zesty world party for Queer People of Color, and the Salsa dance parties that are held in July. Kelly then gets personal with Alan as he asks him about his family life. Alan talks about the process of how he and his partner adopted their two kids. He talks about the pressures of raising a family as a gay couple, as well as some of the challenges that he and his kids face navigating the world as a queer family. Finally, Kelly asks Alan about the fight for marriage equality. Alan talks about the process that he and his colleagues went through in order to get it passed. How they had to pass smaller legislation surrounding it in order to set the precedent for marriage equality. He talks about how he became friends with his political enemies and how that was crucial in nullifying them and getting them on his side. He and Kelly talk about the importance of continuing to talk to people you may disagree with. Then Kelly asks Alan what his favorite neighborhoods are, where he likes to go to eat, and where his favorite place to go for views of the city is. Alan talks about where to go to see the best eye candy, makes a controversial restaurant take, and talks about his favorite section of the High Line. But above all else; Alan van Capelle is a New Yorker. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Follow the High Line and for more information about their events: https://www.thehighline.org @Highlinenyc Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Alan Van Capel on Ellen (00:01:34) - Queens doctor and proud New Yorker (00:03:54) - Democrat and twin sister on politics (00:07:45) - Straight Women Talk About Coming Out (00:07:56) - In the Elevator With Gay People (00:11:23) - Exploring the Stonewall Riot (00:16:05) - On the Pulse Shooting (00:19:07) - The High Line's Pride Month 2 (00:23:10) - Adopting Gay Parents (00:27:00) - Same-Sex Parents in NYC (00:30:50) - Horticulturalists on the High Line (00:33:01) - NY Gov. Cuomo on Marriage Equality (00:39:31) - On the Fight for Gay Rights (00:44:52) - What Gay Parents Want You To Know (00:49:17) - Pride Month on the High Line (00:50:37) - Favorite New York Neighborhoods (00:53:47) - NYC Knicks Fever (00:55:19) - Alan Van Capel on Being a New Yorker (00:57:06) - The New Yorkers Podcast (00:58:18) - Train No. 6, Brooklyn-

In this episode, Kelly is joined by NYC Historian Peter Aigner! He is the director of the Gotham Center for New York City History, and the co-founder of “Echos of Revolution: NYC,” A new immersive walking tour experience that uses geolocation to put you in the world of historic New York. Join them, as Peter talks to Kelly about the process of obtaining his PHD. Peter talks about why he decided to pursue higher education, and talks a bit about the history of the study of history and why it was important for him in his family. Peter talks about his family's chocolate shop and how it's been around for 100 years! He talks about the legacy of the shop and being a part of it while he was growing up. Kelly and Peter talk about some important figures and time periods in NYC history. Peter talks about how we are currently in the second Gilded Age and makes comparisons to the first one. Peter talks about Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the book that he's writing about him: what his legacy was, how he was a scholar, as well as his influence on modern politics. They also talk a bit about the history of transportation in America and the significance of the Highway Act. Kelly asks Peter about Echoes of Revolution. Peter talks about the inspiration behind the project. He talks about how he got involved with Niantic and Ubisoft, bringing them together to revolutionize the tour business. Peter talks about how the app works and what people will get from using it. He talks about the process of designing the tours and how they wanted the experience to work, and how being in person enhances the experience for the users. Kelly asks Peter about New York City during the time of the revolution. Peter talks about how many people lived in the city at the time, what percentage of them were revolutionaries, loyalists, or in between. Peter talks about what the city limits were at that time, and how New York was impacted by the battles, the invasion, and the fires. He talks about why New York was such an important city during the Revolutionary Era and how it was left out of the conversation nationally. Finally, Kelly asks Peter some quickfire questions about his favorite historical spots, his favorite historical figures who came from New York City, and what NYC means to him in one word. But above all else; Peter Aigner is a New Yorker! Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Peter's Social Media @gothamcenternychistory Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet The New Yorkers (00:02:43) - Peter Eigner on Growing Up in Queens (00:05:36) - Long Island: The Gold Coast (00:10:00) - What is the Gotham Center? (00:14:30) - NYC resident on mass suburbanization (00:18:49) - Bookmark: Daniel Patrick Moynihan (00:21:36) - The Life of Daniel Patrick Moynihan (00:23:53) - New York's role in the American Revolution (00:28:20) - The First Battle of New York (00:29:46) - The darkest years of New York City's history (00:36:48) - The Story of New York (00:42:42) - New York City History: The Discovery App (00:48:15) - The Story of New York in the US (00:53:46) - George Washington and the Liberty of Slaves (00:56:45) - NYC on History of the American Revolution (00:58:36) - Most Underrated NYC Historical Spot (01:02:20) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker (01:05:36) - The New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode; Kelly is joined by: Kim Lee! She is the owner and founder of Kawaii Coffee, and an immigrant from Vietnam. Kim recently opened her coffee shop in the west village, which had been a dream of hers for a while. After attending business school and working in midtown at a nail salon, she decided her next step was to run her own business. Kelly asks Kim about moving from Vietnam to the United States. How the culture differs, what was hard to adjust to, what was more similar than you might think, and what it's like starting over in a completely new country. Kim talks about the coffee culture in Vietnam. She tells us how life is much slower there: people go to their favorite coffee shops at around 7 in the morning and wait two full hours for it to drip while they are there! She talks about how they use condensed milk as a sweetener, and the different reasons Vietnamese people go out for coffee. Kelly asks Kim what parts of that culture she hoped to bring with her to New York. Kelly asks Kim about Vietnamese culture in New York. They talk about the food, different events, and how Kim can contribute to that culture. Finally, Kelly asks Kim some quick fire questions about coffee, culture, and where she likes to live. But above all else; Kim Lee is a New Yorker. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Kim's Social Media @Kawaiicafe203 You can find her shop here: 117 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014 Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast (00:02:25) - Vietnam is a dream to visit (00:04:45) - Living in the Biggest City in Vietnam (00:06:09) - Vietnam entrepreneur opens her first shop in Australia (00:08:33) - Toronto is more diverse than New York (00:10:18) - Japanese women start a nail salon in NYC (00:13:04) - Where to Start a Coffee Business in the West Village (00:15:48) - How to get from the Bronx to the West Village (00:16:06) - What Is Vietnamese Coffee? (00:19:23) - How Vietnamese Coffee Is Adjusting to Americans (00:23:01) - Vietnam's First Taste Test in America (00:26:01) - Kawaii Cafe, 117 Christopher Street (00:26:39) - The cafe in New York's West Village (00:30:20) - How New Yorkers Are Helpful (00:32:16) - The Space Where My Business Is Located (00:35:34) - Viral Coffee Shop (00:37:19) - Vietnamese living in the United States (00:39:06) - What do you feel like that New York City has that Vietnamese doesn (00:41:25) - How to say 'Same Year' in Chinese (00:42:21) - Married Vietnamese People Talk About New York (00:45:23) - How to Not Be Lonely In New York (00:45:57) - Vietnam vs New York (00:47:35) - Vietnamis talk about life in NYC (00:49:49) - Teens Talk About The Subway (00:52:36) - "A Woman's Perspective On Her Husband" (00:52:55) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker

With me today, I have Jim Somoza! He is the Managing Director at Industry City. Join them on this episode where they go back in time. Jim tells us what it was like growing up in New York in the 70s and 80s. He talks about how his dad moved to an apartment on the upper west side, overlooking central park. He tells us how he would spend his afternoons in the parks, and weekends in the west village with his best friend. He talks about going to the arcades in Times Square, as well as other games they made up to entertain themselves. Jim then talks about his time as a Real Estate Lawyer. How when he started his practice, it was very difficult to find work. But after sticking with it, even through the crash of the late 90s, he was able to find work and also met people that would bring him to his next career shift in working on Chelsea Market. Kelly asks Jim about the history of Chelsea market: How it got started, what it was like to work there, and he tells us about its founders' vision and what he wanted Chelsea Market to be. Kelly also asks him about a famous sweet treat that was invented at Chelsea Market, and Jim tells us a little known fact about it. Jim then talks about his time developing Industry City. He talks about how the proposal came to him. He tells us what Industry City used to be and how it used to function. He talks about how large it is in comparison to Chelsea Market and even the Empire State building. He then tells us what his strategy was in order to get not only retailers in the space, but also offices and patrons. Jim talks about the community aspect of Industry City, and what he hopes people will get from it when they come for a visit. But above all else; Jim Somoza is a New Yorker. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Jim's Social Media and Industry City @Jim_Somoza @IndustryCity Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - Inside New York's Industry City (00:00:40) - New Yorkers (00:01:56) - The Story of New York City (00:05:17) - Living in New York City in the 70s and 80s (00:09:59) - Coming soon: Jay-Z on Growing Up in Brooklyn (00:11:24) - Living The Warriors In NYC (00:15:24) - Brooklyn doctor on New York City (00:21:06) - Real Estate Broker: The Crash of the Internet (00:26:50) - Real Estate Story: The Chelsea Market Sale (00:30:54) - Joe Bastianich on Chelsea Market and (00:34:07) - The Chelsea Market Building Sale (00:38:27) - The Fight for the Upper Flights (00:40:11) - The Japanese grocery store in Brooklyn (00:44:10) - Brooklyn Core: The Sake Brewery (00:47:32) - Mayor Bill de Blasio on New York's Walking Communities (00:51:20) - What Does It Mean to Be a New Yorker? (00:53:58) - Jim Samoza on New Yorkers Podcast (00:55:30) - New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Zombie Papas Jorge and Todd, the organizers of Thriller NYC! Join them as they introduce themselves. Jorge tells us how he came to New York, and what it was like moving here. Todd on the otherhand, talks about being third generation from Brooklyn. They tell us about how they met, as well as their costume wedding. They talk about how they found Thriller NYC and how long they've been involved with it. Jorge talks about the founding of thriller in the west village Halloween parade. He talks about the first time it was done and what it was like when it first started. He talks about how he initially joined another thriller group because Thriller NYC was full. Todd talks about how Jorge invited him to join thriller one year, but not in the way that he had wanted to. Kelly asks about the process of putting together something so massive. Todd talks about the process of how people get tickets and join the group. He goes over what the rehearsals look like as well as what the time table is like to put on something like that. They both talk about what people are getting out of their ticket. They talk about how it is important for them to form a safe community, and they emphasise moving your body in community, and the healing power that it can have. Jorge and Todd thank Kelly for his viral video of the performance, and they talk about how that helped them get put back on the map and continue post Covid. They also talk about what it feels like to put together this massive project every year, and the cultural impact that it has on the world. They talk about their trip to South Africa and how Thriller even has an impact there. Finally, Kelly asks them some quick fire questions about the dance, the halloween parade, the costumes, and where to eat after. But, above all else; Jorge and Todd are New Yorkers. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Join Thriller NYC! https://www.thrillernyc.com/ @Thrillernyc Donate to the village Halloween parade! https://halloween-nyc.com/donate/ Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast (00:01:57) - This New York Couple Had A 'Thriller' Wedding (00:05:18) - The Halloween Parade With Thriller (00:05:49) - The Thriller Dance in the NYC Parade (00:09:08) - How To Participate in the Parade Thriller Dance (00:11:52) - The West Village Thriller Parade (00:14:27) - The Memphis Thriller Parade (00:18:47) - The New York Thriller Dance (00:23:18) - Mets Mascots at the Parade (00:25:32) - The Cast of Thriller (00:28:33) - Thriller's Spring Parade (00:30:55) - What Makes The Thriller Dance So New York? (00:34:12) - Dancing To Michael Jackson's Thriller in Mozambique (00:36:21) - The New York City Zombie Parade (00:38:14) - How the Village Halloween Parade Works (00:41:02) - Thriller's NYC Parade (00:41:29) - Village Halloween Parade (00:43:12) - The Halloween Parade in New York (00:43:59) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker (00:46:02) - New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode, Kelly is joined by author Andy Fisher! He is the retired founding executive director of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind. He has 35 years of experience in New York City charitable foundations, and is a winner of the Helen Keller International’s Humanitarian Award. Inspired by the humanitarian efforts of the past, he has written his first book about an unsung New Yorker: Nathan Straus. Kelly asks Andy about his growing up, and work. Andy tells Kelly what lead him to New York and to what his passion ended up becoming. Andy talks about retirement and how he was inspired to write a book about Nathan Straus. Andy talks about the writing process. He thanks the publishers, and the fellow scholars that helped him finish the book. He talked about how he came upon Straus, and why he thought it was important to tell his story. Kelly asks Andy about Nathan Straus: Where he was born, what his family life was like, when he moved to New York, and how he made his fortune. Andy talks about how he immegrated from Europe in the early 1800s and what that was like. He told Kelly about how the Civil War ruined his family's buisness. He talks about how his family moved to New York and was able to secure some retail spacy in the well known Macy's! Kelly asks Andy about his humanitarian efforts. Andy tells Kelly about how he was a champion of milk pasteurization at a time when the whole world was against it. Andy explained how Straus saved countless lives by ensuring that everyone had access to the information about pasteurization and pasteurized milk to drink. Andy then talks about his efforts to help people abroad, and talks about his humanitarian efforts in the middle east, as well as how he helped Jewish people, as well as Palestinians. Kelly asks Andy about Nathan's Brother and the Titanic: he tells the story of the families fatefull travel. Finally Kelly asks Andy about how Nathan had said that he wanated to give away all of his money. Andy talks about Nathan's father's philosophy growing up and how that effected him. He talks about the different ways in which he helped the homeless, and helped the community during financial hardships and how even in his most succesfull moment in life, he was humble and knew his limits. But above all else; Nathan Straus and Andy Fisher are New yorkers! Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Buy Andy's Book! https://andrewfisherwriter.com/ Or anywhere you buy books. Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet The New Yorkers (00:01:39) - Philanthropist Andrew Levalle (00:11:53) - Bookmark: The Life of Philip Strauss (00:14:36) - How long did it take to write the book? (00:17:58) - A Jewish Philanthropist: Nathan Strauss (00:24:25) - The Life of Philip and Isidore Macy (00:30:43) - Andy Strauss Once Said He Hoped to Give Away His Entire (00:32:46) - Nathan Strauss and the Birth of Zionism (00:46:11) - The story of Isidore and Ida Strauss (00:46:26) - Tim Ferriss on Richard Strauss (00:49:42) - What Moment in Richard Strauss' Life Stuck With You Most? (00:55:11) - Andrew Fisher on Being a New Yorker (00:57:03) - The New Yorkers: Farewell Train

In this week's episode, Kelly is joined by community builder Maryam Banikarim! She was the former Chief Marketing Officer of many global organizations, She is the Co-Founder of Longest Table, and Host of the podcast “The Messy Parts”. Kelly asks Maryam about coming to The United States from Iran. Maryam talks about her experience living in Iran and in California. She talks about her first trip to the East Coast and how she got into Barnard off the wait list. Maryam talks about life in NYC in the 80s. She tells us about a fateful encounter she had on the subway, fast talking her way into night clubs, and joining Chippendales! Kelly asks her about her experience doing a TedTalk. Maryam tells us how she got the opportunity to do the talk, what her process was in coming up with topics for it, and how she was able to practice and perfect her performance. Maryam then talks about putting together The Longest Table. She discusses challenges that she faced when putting on the first event. She talks about how the obstacles become obstacle courses in how she navigates regection and keeps it from letting it affect her. She then talks about New York Next and how during covid, she and a group of concerned New Yorkers got together to put together an incredible video to help support artists during that dark time. Kelly asks Maryam about the formation of "The Messy Parts". The two talk about their experience being podcast hosts, and the unique challenges that face them. They discuss the creation of Maryam's show: From inspiration to early planning and to how it is now. Finally, Maryam tells the audience about her wedding anniversary, as it is the same day that they recorded the podcast. Maryam met her husband on the Subway! And she recounts her classic New York Story for us. But above all else; Maryam Banikarim is a New Yorker. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Maryam's Social Media @mbanikarim @LongestTableCommunity @TheMessyPartsPodcast Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers (00:00:59) - Meet New Yorker Miriam Banakaram (00:01:39) - Winter in New York (00:02:22) - How To Ride the Subway As A Woman (00:03:05) - I Was Invited To Iftars By A Muslim Influencer (00:07:25) - In the Elevator With My Parents in Iran (00:08:54) - Coming to Barnard College at 16 (00:12:51) - "I Tried Chippendales" (00:13:28) - You Had To Give a TED Talk (00:16:53) - Covid: The Long Table (00:21:48) - Neighbors' meals for the homeless (00:25:58) - The Longest Table in New York (00:27:49) - A Taste of the Longest Table (00:30:15) - The We Love New York City Campaign (00:34:31) - I Love NY: The Campaign (00:38:14) - The New Yorkers Sing During the Great Recession (00:39:09) - The Messy Parts: Miriam on Her Podcast (00:43:35) - Jay Leno on Being On The Podcast (00:47:11) - The Bar Manager Has a Message For Regulars (00:49:03) - I Met My Husband On The Subway (00:50:02) - How We Met : On The Subway (00:52:14) - What Keeps You Inspired In NYC? (00:54:06) - The New Yorkers of We Love NYC (00:56:25) - Meet New Yorker Miriam Banakaram (00:57:31) - New Yorkers Podcast: The New Yorkers

Due to the hustle and bustle of city life, the New Yorkers have to take a leave of absence this week. Please enjoy this episode we did back in September with the brilliant Madelyn Wils. And tune in next time for a brand new episode! ****************************************** In this Episode: Kelly is joined by Civic Leader, Madelyn Wils! She was on the Tribeca Community Board, Head of the Hudson River Park Trust, and is now overseeing the 400 Million Dollar Overhaul of 5th ave. From Kelly asking where Madelyn was from, they learn that they lived on the same block in washington Heights! Madelyn tells Kelly about her time in Television: Working in advertisment sales to selling tv shows, to eventually running her own company and Producing her own shows. Madelyn also tells kelly about the discrimination that she faced and the sexism that was pervasive in the industry. Kelly asks Madelyn about working with Charlie Rose and Larry King. Madelyn tells some funny stories about working behind the scenes on their shows. Madelyn then tells us about how she got into becoming a civic leader. How she joined the community board, and how she was able to procure an empty lot owned by the city for the nearby school's playground. Living in Tribeca in the late 90s and early 2000s, Kelly asks Madelyn about 911. Medelyn recounts her experience on that day, and tells us about how she was able to rally together her fellow community leaders to help everyone in need. Madelyn tells us about her experience with standing up to Rudy Giuliani in the wake of the attacks and how she advocated for her community and brought them the help they deserved. She then talks about how the next administration had been following her work and decided to hire her to work on developing the city. Madelyn talks about how she was able to set up the East River Ferry system, Rebuild Coney Island, start work on the east river park and settle a turf war at Essex Square. Kelly then asks Madelyn about her new project. And Madelyn tells him about how she planned to retire after covid, but decided that she really loved working on the city. So when she got called to work on a project to rebuild 5th avenue; She couldn't say no. Madelyn talks about the project and their plans for 5th avenue: Widening the sidewalks, adding more greenery and creating outdoor cafe space. She talks about wanting to create a beautiful scene that people want to spend time in. But above all else; Madelyn Wils is a New Yorker. Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp For updates on the 5th ave project, Follow @Fifthavenue on instagram Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: A Podcast for New Yorkers (00:01:11) - In the Elevator With Madeline Wills (00:02:13) - Tammy Gibbon on Sexual Assault (00:06:46) - Jane Fonda on Becoming a TV Producers (00:10:13) - Charlie Rose on Working With Larry King (00:12:16) - Philip Feuerstein on Tribeca (00:17:52) - "Your drive is inspiring me!" (00:18:23) - Community Board Chair on 9/11 (00:24:44) - Meryl Streep on the 911 Incident (00:29:23) - The New York Economic Development Corp (00:35:51) - Fifth Avenue: New York's greatest street (00:44:42) - Pedestrian lanes on Fifth Avenue (00:51:35) - The need to update Harlem's infrastructure (00:53:08) - In the Elevator With Mayor Bloomberg (00:54:08) - Madeline on Building the New York City Dance Studio (00:55:42) - The New Yorkers: Madeline Wills

In this episode, Kelly is joined by James "Murr" Murray From the hit TV show "Impractical Jokers"! He is also an executive TV and Film producer as the President of Impractical productions. He is a best selling author of 9 published titles and tours the world telling jokes to sold out arenas. Kelly starts off the show by asking Murr where he was born and what it was like growing up on Staten Island. Murr talks about coming back home after late nights in the city and funny stories on the Staten Island Rapid Transit. He talks about moving to Bay Ridge and going to Catholic school where he met his best friends. Murr then talks about how the show "Impractical Jokers" started. He tells Kelly about his initial pitch for the show and how the company loved it. Kelly talks about the stats from the start of the show and how well it captured audiences all over America. Murr talks about filming the show in the city and how quickly he and his group shot up through the comedy space. He tells the story of performing at his sold out show at Madison Square Garden. Kelly asks Murr about a few of the punishments and improv skits that he has done on the show. Murr goes behind the scenes and talks about "The greatest Punishemnt Ever" That he has orchestrated on the show. He talks about how it was 5 years in the making, and all of the work and preperation that he had to do in order to pull it off. Murr also talks about some of his other favorite skits from the show. Kelly talks about some of the other aspects of the show. They talk about filming during covid, how they go about getting people to go along with their antics, and if they have ever broken character or said that they werent going to do something. Finally Kelly asks Murr some quick fire questions about New York, and Murr gives us a subway take, his favorite pizza, and his 5:30am bodega order. But above all else; James "Murr" Murray is a New Yorker. Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Murr's Social Media: @TheRealMurr Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Get Your Tickets to his show at "Murrlive.com"! Chapters (00:00:00) - James Murray on New Yorkers (00:02:58) - How I Broke My Lease In Jersey (00:03:36) - How Much Time Did COVID Take Off From 'Jokers' (00:04:02) - Jay on His Secret Life (00:06:59) - Joker on His Own Show (00:09:13) - How to get from Staten Island to Jersey (00:12:43) - Members of Pacific Southern Train Club Collectible Box Cars (00:14:30) - The Cast of Impractical Jokers on Success (00:17:45) - Impractical Jokers on The Impossible Pranksters (00:20:21) - The Greatest Punishment Of All Time (00:24:05) - Punishment For The Thief (00:25:37) - Rob Riggles On His Nude Challenge (00:29:01) - The Impractical Jokers on the Weather (00:31:30) - The Final Days of Impractical Jokers Live (00:33:42) - Throw a Full Glass of Water On My Grandmother's Face (00:36:15) - Jokers: How To Get A Job (00:39:10) - Darren Brown: The Power of Belief (00:42:33) - Spider Man Free-Climbed On A Train (00:45:03) - DMV Driver's License Photo (00:45:48) - 10 Questions For NYC People (00:46:55) - What It Means to Be a New Yorker (00:48:13) - The New Yorkers: Thank You!

Join us for the last highlight of Season 2! The New Yorkers Podcast will be back for Season 3 in two weeks! Until then, please enjoy this episode on the tantalizing tale of New York City in the 1980s from the brilliant Jonathan Mahler. ******************************* In this episode, Kelly is joined by Jonathan Mahler! He is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, his sports journalism has been featured in the book “The Best American Sports Writing”, and he is the author of two books: “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning” as well as “The Challenge.” And his third book “The Gods of New York” is available now wherever you buy books! Join them, as Jonathan tells Kelly a bit about where he's from, and his profession. Kelly asks about raising kids in New York City, and what age did he think is ok for kids to ride the subway. Kelly asks Jonathan to give him a background of New York City leading up to the 1980s. Jonathan tells him what it was like to cover the 2016 presidential campaign, and how he was inspired to write this book. Jonathan tells Kelly about some of the stories that were going on during the second half of the 1980s, and Kelly talks about how he remembers living through a lot of these headlines. Kelly asks Jonathan what he thinks of the current Mayoral race in New York City. Jae tells a funny story of what floridians think of the race. And Jonathan recounts how he thinks that the events of his book have a direct effect on this current political climate. Jonathan talks about his research process for the book, what archival he used, and the people he was able to interview. Jae and Kelly talk about how much they love the writing of the book: How personable it is, how funny it is, and how the passion for New York City is dripping off every page. Kelly asks Jonathan to tell us about the title of the book: "The Gods of New York". Jonathan talks about where the title came from, how much he loves the title, but also why he was apprehensive to call it that. Finally, Kelly asks Jonathan some questions about his writing process, as well as some fun quick New York City questions that every New Yorker has an answer for. But above all else; Jonathan Mahler is a New Yorker! Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Jonathan Mahler's Social Media: @Jonathan.Mahler Jae's Social Media: @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: The Gods of New York (00:01:30) - Meet Jonathan Harris: Born and Raised in NYC (00:04:37) - Jonathan Wolff on His New Book 'The Gods of New York (00:07:10) - New York's Story of Rebirth (00:11:22) - In the Elevator With Michael Moore (00:12:06) - The New York Mayor: 1986-1990 (00:14:32) - The Making of New York Mayor Ed Koch (00:16:17) - How To Write A Detailing of the AIDS Era (00:18:52) - In the Elevator With Spike Lee (00:22:16) - In the Elevator With Bernard (00:22:43) - Bernie Getz: A New York Hero ( (00:27:06) - The Guardian Angels on the NYC mayoral race (00:29:49) - The Money Spent to Stop Trump (00:30:23) - How The City Went From Bad to Worse (00:32:59) - A Day in the Life of Jay (00:33:13) - What Made You Write 'This Is Worth Doing' (00:34:02) - What surprised you most during your research for The New York Story? (00:37:17) - Ed Koch's Last Year as Mayor (00:40:17) - The Gods of New York (00:41:53) - "The End of New York" by Philip Roth (00:42:57) - Readers Talk About 'The Book' (00:43:56) - 10 Quick Fire Questions for ' (00:46:12) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker

In this episode: Kelly is joined by Anthony Mangieri! He is a Chef, Businessman and Pizza Connoisseur. Join them, as Anthony tells us about how he got his start in the resturaunt industry in his late teens! Anthony talks about his first buisness baking bread, and how that grew into owning his own Pizzaria. From there, Anthony talks about wanting to move his buisness to New York, and how he gained the recognicion of top food critics. Anthony talks about his craft, and how he goes about running his resturaunt. He describes his unique approach of personally hand crafting every pizza on his own. He talks about his passion for making dough and his interest in customer service. Kelly asks Anthony what the Pandemic's effects were on his resturaunt and how he survived it. Anthony talks about the kindness of his community, and how he met his future wife during that difficult time. Anthony talks about his wife Christina and their soon to be baby! He is blessed to feel fortunate to have a lot of great things in his life, and he talks about how he manages all of it. Jae asks Anthony about his frozen pizza product: What it was like to create sometihing like that, what is the process like, and where people can buy it. Anthony talks about how he wanted to make the best frozen pizza that exhists. The pizza's are personally hand made in italy, with fresh italian ingredients, and Anthony prides himself on being able to give a great frozen food alternative to people who might need it. Jae also asks about what are some of his other favorite pizza's and resturaunts in New York. Anthony has a few, but says that he is very self motivated, and strives to make the best product he can, and finds ways to innovate and improve every day. But above all else; Anthony Mangieri is a New Yorker! You can Find Una Pizza Napoletana here: 175 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002 They are open Thursday-Saturday. Reservation is encouraged. Kelly Kopp's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Anthony Mangieri's Social Media @anthony_w_mangieri @unapizzanapoletana Jae Watson's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers (00:01:16) - Pizza Maker's Secret to Success (00:03:28) - Open Your Own Pizza Business in the 1980s (00:07:18) - Opening a Neapolitan Pizza Parlor in New Jersey (00:11:02) - Pizza at Nobu (00:12:18) - Open Your Eyes: Ed Levine's Pizza (00:16:11) - Pizzas Napolitan: The Pandemic (00:18:22) - The Pizza Made During the Pandemic (00:20:26) - Pizzeria Review: Best Pizzeria in the World (00:24:11) - The Pizzas at Il Giorno (00:27:41) - Pizza Made Fresh, In the Oven (00:29:40) - The Pizzeria, 175 Orchard Street (00:32:51) - Baby's Birth at the Restaurant (00:33:55) - Anthony Bourdain Made a Pizza For Everyone to Buy (00:41:29) - Una Pizza: Not Just Neapolitan Pizza (00:48:23) - Pete Wentworth on His Career (00:49:37) - Favorite Restaurants in the City (00:50:36) - Anthony Mangieri's Pizzeria (00:52:31) - What It Means to Be a New Yorker (00:54:16) - The New Yorkers: Episode 291

In this episode: Kelly is joined by Richard Hayden! Richard is the Senior Director of Horticulture at the High Line. Join them, as Richard teaches us about the profession of gardening. He tells us about how he got into horticulture, and what it does for him. He talks about his staff and how dedicated they are to maintaining the wonderful vision of the High Line. Kelly asks Richard how the High Line got started, and Richard tells Kelly the amazing redemption story that the highline overtook: From Death ave to one of the most visited parks in the world. Richard tells us about some of the plants that live on the High Line. He talks about the gardening philosophy that they take when deciding what the areas should look like. And finally, Kelly asks Richard some fun questions about the High Line: if he's named any of the plants, which area is his favorite, what his favorite view is, and... what berry birds get drunk on? But above all else; Richard Hayden is a New Yorker! Kelly Kopp's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp Richard Hayden's Social Media @NatureGardener Jae Watson's Social Media @Studiojae170 Chapters (00:00:00) - This New Yorker Has One of the Most Ordinary Jobs in NYC (00:02:45) - The High Line: Richard Pryor on the Garden (00:05:51) - What Inspires You in the Morning? (00:07:15) - The High Line's Secret to Gardening (00:09:23) - What is the maintenance of the High Line Garden? (00:11:24) - The Story of the High Line (00:16:30) - The High Line: An Infrastructure Reuse Project (00:20:37) - Favorite plants on the High Line (00:23:43) - The People of the High Line (00:26:29) - The Last Section of the High Line (00:28:24) - Richard Feynman at the High Line (00:30:53) - Plants and flowers around the park (00:33:54) - The High Line: Art on the High Line (00:37:36) - How to care for the High Line gardens (00:39:58) - High Line Trees Need Irrigation (00:41:57) - How to Win at the High Line (00:46:02) - "A Plant Isn't Worth Growing Unless It Looks Beautiful" (00:46:47) - How Do You Keep People From Damage Your Garden? (00:48:08) - Favorite view from the High Line (00:49:12) - Richard on What Does Nature Mean to Him? (00:50:00) - What It Means to Be a New Yorker (00:51:42) - The High Line: Where to Find Them?

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Hillary Wallace! She is the principal designer at her own firm: Simon-Wallace Design. And she pulls out all of the stops decorating her New York City home for the holidays. Kelly starts the episode off by talking about the only way two true New Yorkers could meet: Yelling at each other from a window! Hillary talks about where she was from and how from when she was young; she alwasy wanted to move to New York. She talks about growing up in LA in the 80's, moving to colorado, designing her own furniture as a side job and how that inspired her to go back to school for design. Kelly then asks Hillary about her house, and Hillary tells the very roundabout story of how she and her husband came to find and buy the house. Hillary tells us all about decorating her house for the holidays. She goes over her schedule, talks about where she gets all of her resourses from, and how she goes from design idea to execution every single year. Kelly and Hillary then talk about the desings themselves. What they are, some absurd stories about them, and the ways that different people have been inspired or moved by them. Hillary talks about her design philosophy, and how she goes about meeting clients, and creating a lifestyle for them or meeting them in their lifestyle. Jae asks her about some other events around the city and the three talk about some of the various events you can do while around New York during the holiday season. Finally, Kelly asks Hillary about some of her New York City Essentials, like where she goes for inspiration, where her favorite shops are and how she likes to get around. But above all else; Hillary Wallace is a New Yorker. Kelly Kopp's Social Media: @NewYorkCityKopp Hillary Wallace's Social Media: @SimonWallaceDesign Jae's Social Media @Studiojae170 Hosted by Kelly Kopp Executive Produced by Huston "Jae" Watson Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet The New Yorkers (00:02:37) - Jay Leno On Being A New Yorker (00:06:31) - Fuzzy the Mayor on New York (00:06:45) - In the Elevator With Sarah Silverman (00:09:39) - How to Make a Living Fixing Up Furniture (00:10:12) - Working at Ralph Lauren's Interior Design Department (00:13:43) - Simon Wallace on Starting a Design Studio (00:14:07) - The House That Made Me Happy (00:15:15) - Living In New York City (00:17:53) - The New York City Home That I Deserve (00:21:10) - Hillary Clinton Wins The Biggest Pumpkin Auction In The United States (00:23:48) - How Long Does It Take To Decorate Your Home? (00:27:41) - Happy Halloween! One Pumpkin Stolen (00:30:34) - Decorations on the porch of the house (00:32:02) - Simon Wallace on His Haunted Pumpkin Painting (00:34:30) - The Decorating On The Upper West Side (00:37:58) - What else do you do for Halloween? (00:38:51) - Ralph Lauren on Being Inspired By Designers (00:41:51) - "Yucky" Comments on Social Media (00:42:42) - What's One Design Trend You Never Want To See Again? (00:43:24) - What's The First Thing You Notice When You Walk In Your Home (00:47:11) - "No one takes their shoes off in NYC" (00:48:29) - Blaze Festival and Sleepy Hollow Haunted House (00:51:01) - Hillary on The Elevator (00:51:21) - What's Your Favorite NYC Neighborhood? (00:53:31) - Favorite park in New York (00:54:16) - What It Means To Be A New Yorker