December 06, 2023

Every Sunday, a small group of people gather in Soho to experience something from a bygone era. They sit in a dimly lit screening room and watch a couple of old black-and-white films. Behind the couches are old objects about the night’s theme there for attendees to see, touch, and play with. This personally curated weekly series is the brainchild of Denny Daniels. Reporter Sajina Shrestha recently attended one of the screenings and has this report.

December 06, 2023

The holidays are just around the corner, and for a lot of New Yorkers, that means it’s finally coquito season! Coquito is a traditional puerto rican coconut-based drink but everyone adds their own special flair to the beverage. AudioFiles dropped in on this month’s Bronx coquito masters competition to find out what makes this drink so special?

December 06, 2023

Governor Kathy Hochul says a new program will award funding to over 100 organizations across the city to address food insecurity. 40 million dollars will be given through the New York Food for New York Families Program to help increase access to local foods. Audio Files reporter Christian Nazario visited one of the last farmers markets for the season to find out what’s going on in the Bronx.

December 06, 2023

Doulas are trained professionals who provide pregnancy-related health services. It’s originally a role that provides labor support, and in recent years the role of the doula has been expanding to include all kinds of support for pregnant people. Now, more and more employers are offering doula services as medical benefits for their workforce. Marisa Menez Marthaller first became a doula in 2018 after the birth of her son, Alton. It wasn’t long before her passion for cooking and helping people intersected with her doula work. And thus, the Soup Doula was born! Reporter Aaliyah Fisher has the story

Music: Audionautix

December 06, 2023

In the final episode of AudioFiles season 12, hear about a historic vote happening at the Nostrand Houses in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and learn about why activists are working to try and put an end to the NYPD’s controversial gang database. We also hear from an organizational leader working on nail salon rights about the importance of the anticipated Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act.

Later in the show, we hear from a postpartum chef who has found a unique way to serve her clients and learn how local artists are using music to help destigmatize mental health in Black communities. Also, union president for the Queens Library Guild, John Hyslop, joins us in the studio to talk about the importance of city libraries and how the newest budget cuts in city agencies have impacted them.

Managing Producer: Ashley reed
Producer: Amanda Kari McHugh
Associate Producer: Rachel Goldman
Host: Aaliyah Fisher and Nicolas Magrino
Reporters: Kimberly Izar, Ashley Reed, Aaliyah Fisher, Safiyah Riddle, Sajina Shrestha, and Christian Nazario
Editors: Maggie Freleng and Richard Yeh
Sound Engineers: Amber Watson and Chad Bernhard.
Guests: Pabitra Dash, Ariella Messing And John Hyslop.
Music credits: Allison Soul, Audioautix, Catherine Elia, Dekobe, Ignatz, Jimmy Fontanex & Media Right Productions, Monplasir, Richard Anthony and Sean Elliot

November 15, 2023

Two of the most high profile strikes across the country are coming to a close this month with both auto workers and actors reaching tentative deals with their respective employers. But for janitors, repair people, and porters across New York City’s non-residential buildings, negotiations over a new contract have only just begun. Reporting by Safiyah Riddle.

November 15, 2023

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and is observed by adherents of many Indian faith traditions. Back in June, it was declared as an official holiday in New York City. We hear from Indian Americans on what it means to have Diwali officially recognized. Reporting by Sajina Shrestha

November 15, 2023

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, the first Broadway show to be set in a hair salon in Harlem, is ending its run this month. To get a better sense of the inspiration behind its characters, reporter Rachel Goldman checked in on salon workers in Harlem.

November 15, 2023

School districts across the country are slashing arts programs such as drama, music and dance citing “budget cuts”. Imani Nzingha is a public school teacher who teaches dance, but as resources for schools become slimmer and slimmer she has to take on other roles. Reporter Aaliyah Fisher brings us the story.

November 15, 2023

The Professional Staff Congress, or PSC-CUNY, is the union that represents more than 30,000 CUNY faculty and staff members, who have been working without a contract since February. Now, PSC-CUNY is gearing up for a day of action at Governor Hochul’s office in December. We joined union members at Hostos Community College who delivered their petition to their college president to demand a new contract. Reporting by Kimberly Izar.

November 15, 2023

Barretto, a former flamenco dancer, was wheelchair bound after she was diagnosed with Graves disease in 2019. However, she didn’t see this as a barrier to living her life, and created her own kind of physical therapy: she used hula hooping to get her back on her feet. Baretto now teaches hula hooping through an organization she started called “Hoop to Health.” AudioFiles reporter Amanda Kari McHugh went to Barretto’s studio to see how it’s done.

November 15, 2023

In this episode of AudioFiles season 12, We head to Midtown, Manhattan where thousands of Service Employees International Union members rally ahead of the first day of contract negotiations. We also meet Indian Americans celebrating Diwali, and learn more about what it means to have the holiday recognized by the city government.

Later in the show, Reporter Kimberly Izar heads to Hostos Community College where PSC-CUNY union members at three Bronx campuses delivered petitions to their college presidents to demand a new contract. Then, our host Christian Nazario sits down with Robert Fanuzzi, the president of the Bronx Council For Environmental Quality, to talk about how the Mayor’s new program to extend the city’s greenway corridors is beneficial to New Yorkers.

Managing Producer: Ashley Reed
Host: Christian Nazario
Show Producer: Nicolas Magrino
Associate Producer: Amanda Kari McHugh
Reporters: Rachel Goldman, Kimberly Izar, Amanda Kari McHugh, Aaliyah Fisher, Safiyah Riddle, Sajina Shrestha, Cullen Fagan and Jiana Smith

Editors: Maggie Freleng and Richard Yeh
Sound Engineers: Amber Watson and Chad Bernhard.
Guests: Marcella Moslow, Robert Fanuzzi, and Justin Pines.
Music credits: Jason Shaw, Benjamin Tissot, Justin Pines, Celdro & Emil Wennerholm, Monplaisir, Beat Mekanik, and Aldous Ichnite

November 15, 2023

Urban foraging is illegal everywhere in New York City – except in one park in the South Bronx. Reporter Cullen Fagan visited the second annual Community Banquet with the Bronx River Foodway Team to see how prioritizing an indigenous and free harvest can benefit local residents.

November 1, 2023

An ancient board game that originated in China, with simple rules but very complex gameplay, has been steadily gaining popularity in New York. Reporter Kimberly Izar talked to some local players of the game to see what the hype is all about.

November 1, 2023

Halloween dog parades are some of the most popular festivities around the city. AudioFiles reporters Rachel Goldman and Aaliyah Fisher went to a dog costume contest at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and got the inside scoop on what the four legged contestants were wearing.

November 1, 2023

Ji Eun Lim from Seoul, South Korea, came to the U.S to continue her art studies. Reporter Christian Nazario visited Lim to hear how she uses geometric shapes to express herself.