Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein: Local content creators talk about their work, inspiration, and passion for art, media, and popular culture

Hot Seat: Media Monday with Ron Klopfanstein: Local content creators talk about their work, inspiration, and passion for art, media, and popular culture

Tune into Hot Seat: Media Monday each week at 5 pm on 95.5 FM “The Heat” or stream it live at 955TheHeat.com or Facebook.com/RonKlopfanstein. Past episodes stream at the links below.

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Soul Mine: lead vocalists Shelly Harris and Jenn Klemenz, and keyboardist Fred Shattell; Kassandra Garcia, host of United Way of the Mohawk Valley’s podcast Inside the Impact! and Sistas and Brothas N Motion  1-2-26 S2:E20

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Soul Mine: lead vocalists Shelly Harris and Jenn Klemenz, and keyboardist Fred Shattell; Kassandra Garcia, host of United Way of the Mohawk Valley’s podcast Inside the Impact! and Sistas and Brothas N Motion  1-2-26 S2:E20

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Pete Colter, Brian Lazore, Jet Lab Studios, Utica Creative Reuse, Exit 33 1-26-26 S2:E20

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Ravin Wormwood, Rabbi Stephen Guiley, Three Kings Day, Rome Humane Society 1-19-26 S2: E19

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Pete Colter, Brian Lazore, Jet Lab Studios, Utica Creative Reuse, Exit 33 1-26-26 S2:E20

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Ravin Wormwood, Rabbi Stephen Guiley, Three Kings Day, Rome Humane Society 1-19-26 S2: E19

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Nabil Khan and Cassondra Powers w/ “Holiday Fear” podcast, New Year’s Eve in Downtown Utica, and Ron and Lily go Bowling with PJ Calkins 1-5-25 S2:E18

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Barry Sinnott, Cleo Qupid, Milly Szmurlo, Lavendar/Lights, & 2026 Astrology 12-29-25 S2:E17

Hot Seat: Media Monday; blogger Richard Weems, Utica Royalties’ HaWa Peters, photojournalist Brian Lazore, & “Revealed: The Art of Burlesque” 12-15-25 S2:E15

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Aaron Woodman, Lisa Fazio, Cleo Qupid, Utica D.I.Y. Shows Concert/Toy Drive and Alliance Classical Players’ “Downton Abbey Christmas” 12-8-25 S2:E14

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Colleen Reilly O’Neil and Elizabeth Evans from the Alliance Classical Players and a conversation with a family torn apart by ICE 12-1-25 S2:E13

Hot Seat: Media Monday; Cait Devin, Bailey Sharron, Nabil Khan, LGBTQ+ Rights Rally 11-24-25 S2:E12

Hot Seat: Media Monday Madison Krupa, Diva’ Nae Brown, Utica DIY Shows; Jacob Lasher 11-17-25 S2:E11

Hot Seat Media Monday S2:E10 Chelsy Plows w/ Oneida County BOCES P-Tech, Jessica & Jennifer Lawrence w/ Ophelia’s Looking Glass, Tina Betz w/ “Drawn in Glass” at The Other Side, & Ace Morreale w/ Oneida County Pride Alliance 

Hot Seat: Media Monday w/ Charlie Perrotta on keeping the Adirondacks “Forever Wild” 11/3/25 S2:39 

Hot Seat: Media Monday w/ Stars & Director of New Hartford Central School District’s Beetlejuice, Happy Haggs Dance Troupe of Central New York, and 95.5 FM AI Content Producer Jim Hale 10-27-25 S2:E8

Hot Seat: Media Monday No Kings Protests in Rome, Hamilton, & Herkimer and Mark Hemendinger & Pat Salzer from the Clinton Death Cafe 10-20-25 S2:E7

Hot Seat: Media Monday Hispanic Heritage Month w/ Mohawk Valley Latino Association, poet Mathew Cushman, Coming Out Day, Graveyard Cabaret Burlesque, & Morrow Open Mic 10-13-25 S2:E6

Hot Seat: Media Monday Jack Cooper, author of Pain Before the Rainbow, Pete Colter, author of The Endless Fall, and the 20th Anniversary of Uticon 10-06-25 S2:E5

S2: E4 9-29-25 Burlesque performer/producer Cleo Qupid, NYS Supreme Court candidate Elizabeth Snyder Fortino, performer/producer JWatch, and Rome Art and Community Center’s Royalty & Rogues Renaissance Festival

S2:E3 9-22-25 Chris Duck, Ellie Hadity, and Roxie Yasilopoulus from Arc of Oneida-Lewis County’s Alice in Wonderland, Nabil Khan with gaming/comic news, and the Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society’s Observatory and stargazing event

S2: E2 9-15-25 Scott Carr and John Stemen “100 Years of WIBX Radio,” Utica Creative Reuse “Trash to Treasure” exhibition, and Saturday Night at the Tram

9-9-25 Season 2 Premiere! Tina Parzych & Ashley Pace from the Pride of Westmo’s “Totally Rad 80s Prom Gone Bad,” Pete Colter, author of The Endless Fall, Aaron Woodman from Oneida County NAACP, JWatch, & Utica Creative Reuse’s “Stone Soup” community art project

8-25-25 Filmmaker Muna Crescent, Shawn Essafi from Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement, Summerween! Roller Derby Double Header and Mohawk Valley Latino Festival

8-19-25 Central New York Roller Derby, Ladies Death and Derby Society, 56 Fridays, and DJ J-Easy at Levitt AMP Music Series

8/11/25 Nabil Khan and Drew Allen (Drew’s Magic and Balloons) with comic/gaming/entertainment news, Hawa Peters and Utica Royalties Talent Show, and Lily Christopher shops Clinton

8/4/25 Explorer/Photographer Charlie Perrotta, Tiffani Beth Gager with Sci-Fi Horror Fest, a trip to Sylvan Beach Amusement Park

7/28/25 Comedian JWatch, PR/Media Pro Jack Pflanz, Should Republicans End the Epstein/Trump Investigation? & Wood Creek Hollow Farm’s “Creepy Christmas in July”

7/21/25 Musician Lou Altman, biker Dave Paul, Fringe Festival, and Italian Festival

7/14/25 “100 Years of Newsradio 950 WIBX” with radio journalists John Stemen and John Swann

7/7/25 War correspondent Brendan Dunn on his current work covering the war in the Middle East, artist Lorraine Kreimeyer on the Munson Sidewalk Art Show, and the Clinton Farmer’s Market

6-23-25 Musician Ryan Quinn and Hawa Peters of Utica Royalties with “Yoga in the Park” 

6/19/25 Hot Seat Special with 95.5 FM and Newsradio 950 WIBX journalist, John Stemen

6/16/24 “Using Media to Memorialize” with Jennifer Boulanger, author of A Song for Olaf, Sue Francisco, the founder of Whitney’s Legacy, and Kelly Fahy, chairman of Whitney’s Legacy Music Fest

6/9/25 Roger Rebisz and the Central New York Role Playing Game Convention plus Celebrating Mohawk Valley Radio with Budd Green and Donna Ray!

6/4/24 Hot Seat: Media Monday Special Episode “Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour” with Leslie Rainey and Theresa McFadden

6/2/25 “All About Oz: Celebrating the World of L. Frank Baum” and Oz-Stravaganza 2025 with Marc Baum and Monica Kinner from the All Things Oz Museum and the International L. Frank Baum and All Things Oz Historical Foundation

5/26/25 Author and author Mark Usyk and journalist Jess Santacroce, blogger of The Heat Beat: Read about the music of Phoenix Radio and beyond on 955TheHeat.com.

5/19/25 “Indy Film Making” with Newport Short Film Showcase filmmakers Jonas America, Aiden Ferguson, Siulee Olivera, Carley Himnan, and Kelsey Zimmerman

5/12/25 Men’s Physical and Mental Health” with Fitness Mill‘s Erik Fredsell and photographer Brian Lazore

5/5/25 Utica Teens in Action and the Young Entrepreneurs Academy

4/28/25 Free Comic Book Day with Nabil Khan and Catstock 2025 with John Chesebro

4/21/25 Children’s authors and storytellers Lorraine Kreimeier and Dave Dellacese, and Sheila Dion from Erin’s Angels

4/14/25 Journalist and Talk of the Town co-host, Rocco LaDuca, on “The Mob Files,” a series of articles he wrote while working as a reporter for the Observer-Dispatch

4/7/25 Gaming, Music, and Absent Friends with DJ J Easy/Jonathan Brooks and Nabil Khan

3/31/25 Yacht Rock and Gen X nostalgia Gridley Paige AM Gold

3/24/25 “Trans Rights Rally” and “From Biology to Identity-A Journey Beyond Chromosomes”

3/17/25 William Welch, author of Adding Saffron and editor and publisher of Doubly Mad: Utica’s Independent Journal of Arts and Ideas, and comedian Rob Fish

3/10/25 Legendary local radio DJ Linda Rae, and Budd Green from the Rock 107, KG 104, and New York Z Tribute pages

3/3/25 Center for Family Life and Recovery‘s “Black Balloon Day,” Alli Ryan from Kindful Art, and 2025 Oscar wrap-up

2/24/25 The art and culture of burlesque with Jim and Cat Goodrich

2/17/25 Rebroadcast of “People’s March/MLK Day 2025” with Dawn Laguerre, Aaron Woodman, and JavianDawson from the Oneida County NAACP

2/10/25 Rome Community Theater’s First Date, Sue Francisco from Whitney’s Legacy with Zurawski v. Texas, and the United Way’s 211 Day 2/10/25

2/3/25 “WUTR-TV 20 Eyewitness News Reunion” with Susan Nackley Mojave and Kathy Contino-Turner

1/27/25 Artist, writer, performer, and former “Wicked Witch of the West,” Lorraine Kreimeyer and entertainment correspondent Nabil Khan with 2025 Oscar nominations

1/20/25  “People’s March/MLK Day 2025” with Dawn Laguerre, Aaron Woodman, and JavianDawson from the Oneida County NAACP

1/13/25  “Justice for Robert Brooks Rally” with Shana Dahlin

1/6/25 DJ J-Easy and entertainer/producer Amos Donnell 

1/1/25 Photographer and podcaster Brian Lazore and 95.5 FM DJ Baby Wayne

12/30/24 Hot Seat: Media Monday correspondent Nabil Kahn, Stephen Hampe from Rome Community Theater, and 95.5 FM “The Heat’s” DJ J-Easy

12/23/24 Balloon artist and magican Drew Allen of Drew’s Magic and Balloon Animals and Aubrey Campbell, Hamilton College Music and Theatre major

12/16/24 Comedians Jay Barton/JWatch, Brenda Reinhardt, and Dawn Laguerre

12/9/24 Judy Marchione and Vicky Stockton from the Clinton Symphony Orchestra of the Mohawk Valley

12/2/24  Rebroadcast of the 9/30/24 episode with Journalist and host of Talk of the Town, Rocco LaDuca

11/25/24 Sarah Marris-Swann from Utica Creative Reuse and Pat Joseph from Building Stones Fair Trade Shoppe

11/18/24 Stephen Hampe, Adam Jackson, Dante Plalumbo, and MaryGrace Kehrli from Rome Community Theater’s Rabbit Holeand Astrologer and Energetic Health Practitioner Chelan Vanno

11/11/24 LGBTQIA+ Tales: Stories of Resilience and Remembrance with Ace Morreal from Oneida County Pride Association and Dawn LaGuerre and Hawa Peters from On Point for College

11/04/24 Election Eve with James Meyers and Adrienne Martini, and Nabil Khan with his monthly update on Marvel/DC Comics, Collectible and Role Playing Card Games, & Manga and Anime

10/28/24 Halloween Specials with local candy makers: WODOX’s Patty Chmara-Shirley & Robert Shirley and Tim Messett from Rainbow Cupboard

10/18/24 Celebrating 22 years and the final season of Cayo Industrial Horror Realm with founder/owner Josh Reale, the Oneida County NAACP’s Dawn LaGuerre, and musical performer Big Grizzley 

10/14/24 Congressman John Katko’s “Balancing Act,” Nabil Kahn, and DJ J Easy

10/9/24 Utica University’s Theatre Department Johnny Calabrese, Claire Bosley, Dakota Wayne, Caleb Henning, and professor Laura Salvaggio

9/30/24 Journalist and host of Talk of the Town, Rocco LaDuca

9/23/24 Musicians Cassandra Harris Lockwood and Chris Woods

9/17/24 Danielle Martin of Connected Community Schools

9/9/24 Rapper and digital creator Charles Howard and Sue Litera, CEO and Executive Director of the United Way of the Mohawk Valley.

9/2/24 Winners and performers from Utica Royalties’ summer talent show, Samantha Lynn, Big Grizzley, and Venus Reddick 

8/26/24 WKTV Newschannel 2 and Citrus TV journalist Luke Radel

8/19/24 Balloon artist and magical Drew Allen of Drew’s Magic and Balloons

8/12/24 Digital artist Jason Horvath

8/5/24 WKAL 1450 AM Talk Radio‘s Rocco Garro

7/22/24 Photographer Brian Lazore

7/15/24 Author Erika C Lowenkopf, author of Missing The Boat: A Memoir and Joanna Robertson, owner of the Treehouse Reading and Arts Center

7/8/24 Directing team of Rome Community Theater’s “Anastasia:” Justin Jones, Josh Clanton, and Noah Alexander Price

7/1/24  Zach Lewis, author of Clinton and Kirkland (Past and Present) and Clinton native Kim Bacon Meyer

6/24/24 Democratic voters on the NY-22  primary vote

6/17/24 Gaming couple Dusty and Robert Beaudry

6/10/24 Sarah Macri, Director of Strategic Impact and Jack Pflanz, Director of Development and Commmunications for the United Way of the Mohawk Valley

6/3/24 Sarah Klee Hood, Candidate for U.S. Congress in New York State’s 22nd Congressional District

5/29/24 Devin Mahoney from the Uptown Center for Creative Arts, Hawa Peters and Venus Reddick from Utica Royalties, and photographer Brian Lazore

5/27/24 Pride Month Special featuring Ace Morreale from the Oneida County Pride Association and drag perfomer, “Scarlett Vendetta”

5/13/24 Musicians Adam Jones and Shane Archer Reed

5/6/24 95.5 FM “The Heat” Utica Phoenix Radio DJ J Easy

4/29/24 Journalist Eric Santomauro-Stenzel, editor-in-chief of the Monitor

4/22/24 Tramontane Cafe coffeehouse owner, Robin Raabe

4/15/24 Media restorer and traffic light collector Tony Taurisano 72-year-old radio show made by Lou Barile that he digitized for the Oneida County History Center and his passion for collecting traffic lights. 

4/8/24 Musician and actor Xander Wilson

4/1/24 Ruben Wright, WCNY‘s Project Manager, and Ron Klopfanstein discussing his coverage of the PBS Masterpiece series Nolly

3/25/24 Marques Williams, creator/host of Utica University TV‘s IS IT ON?

📽️ 🎭 🖼️ 📚 🎸📺

Ron Klopfanstein is an award winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for the Utica Phoenix digital platform and 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He also hosts the Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Twitter.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.