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Your go-to podcast for inspiring stories, uplifting news, and positive vibes from across New York State!
Whether it’s groundbreaking innovations, community heroes, or businesses making a difference, we bring you the stories that remind us all of the good happening around us.
Join us as we highlight the changemakers, dreamers, and everyday folks bringing positivity to the Empire State.
From local businesses thriving in Syracuse to heartwarming tales from Buffalo, Albany, and beyond—this is the news you’ll actually want to hear. Because good news deserves to be heard.
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Former Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on Leading the New York State Canal Corporation and the Modern Erie Canal System Matt Maier hosts the first episode filmed in Good News York’s new downtown Syracuse space and welcomes former Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, now director of the New York State Canal Corporation. Walsh recounts his Syracuse roots, family tradition of public service, eight years as mayor, and passing leadership to Mayor Owens, his former deputy mayor. He explains the Canal Corporation’s role managing a modern, 524-mile, four-canal system (Erie, Champlain, Seneca, Oswego) with 57 locks, lift bridges, trails, recreation, limited commercial shipping, and significant infrastructure maintenance needs, including deferred maintenance and capital priorities. Walsh describes winter work, workforce support, partnerships, and efforts to promote the canal as a world-class linear park. He highlights upcoming navigation season (May 15–Oct 14), events like the Medina Triennial, Albany Symphony canal performances, and the Seneca Chief “Back to Buffalo” tour, and shares Syracuse water-related gems such as Elmwood Park, Hiawatha Lake, and the Inner Harbor/Creekwalk. 00:00 Welcome to the New Studio 01:01 Meet Former Mayor Ben Walsh 02:23 Passing the Torch to Mayor Owens 03:34 Why the Canal Corporation 04:55 Canal System Explained 06:47 Erie Canal Then and Now 08:00 Modern Uses and Upgrades 09:58 Ben Walsh Day to Day 12:13 Trails and Local Partnerships 13:22 Biggest Canal Surprises 15:53 Events to Watch This Season 18:16 Hidden Gems in Syracuse 20:33 Wrap Up and Thanks
Every great city is built on a body of water. Syracuse is no exception, though its story is a bit different. The Erie Canal that once defined the area no longer runs through the city as it once did, prompting a broader reorientation around its existing waterways. Today, Onondaga Creek, the inner harbor, and the […] More
The skills required to maintain New York’s canal system cannot be taught in a classroom. Dubbed "Canal Craft," the work demands on-the-job learning, creativity, and daily innovation from a workforce of over 500 people. With billions of dollars in capital needs and significant contributions from the New York Power Authority, Governor Hochul, and the state […] More
Most people learn about the Erie Canal in fourth grade and never think about it again. But as one Canal Corporation representative explains, New York’s canal system is very much alive today. Spanning 524 miles of navigable waterway across four canals, it stands as the largest state-run inland waterway system in the United States. From […] More
Good News York | Episode 160 | Feat. Ben Walsh, Director of the NYS Canal Corporation In this episode of Good News York, host Matt Masur sits down with Ben Walsh — former two-term mayor of Syracuse and the newly appointed Director of the New York State Canal Corporation — for a wide-ranging conversation about […] More
What started as 17 people gathered in a small room has grown into a community of 45 to 50 creatives meeting every month. Joe Cunningham reflects on the growth of Syracuse Actors Studio and expresses gratitude to everyone who has shown up, as well as to the Palace Theater for providing a home for both […] More
Joe Cunningham breaks down his filmmaking philosophy — set the parameters, introduce a little chaos, and let the camera roll. In his view, take one is almost always the best take, because the actors have no idea what is coming next, and that genuine surprise is exactly what shows up on screen. Co-star Laura Stisser […] More
Joe Cunningham and Laura Stisser, co-founders of Syracuse Actors Studio, sit down to share the story behind SAS — a free, no-barrier-entry community for local actors and creatives. From its humble beginnings to a growing monthly gathering at the Palace Theater, Joe and Laura explain why accessibility and community are at the heart of everything […] More
GNY EP.159 | Joe Cunningham & Laura Stisser from The Syracuse Actors Studio In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Joe Cunningham and Laura Stisser, the co-founders of Syracuse Actors Studio (SAS) — a thriving monthly collective bringing together actors, directors, writers, producers, and creatives of all kinds right […] More
Good News York | EP. 158 – feat. Jeff Taylor from The Wild Park In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Jeff Taylor — the visionary entrepreneur behind The Wild Park, The Haven, and Taylor’s Wilderness Safari, all located right here in Chittenango, New York. Jeff opens up about […] More
Hot take from Brian Badger: he’s not an old muscle car guy. He grew up watching Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on MTV — and he’ll take a low rider with tinted windows and a booming stereo over a stock classic any day. He’s even tried to buy his friend’s all-original Cadillac just to slam […] More
Kids don’t forget these moments. Brian Badger talks about why getting the younger generation to the Cavalcade of Cars matters, because seeing a Mustang for the first time, sitting in a lifted truck, talking to the guy who built it, those experiences stick. They could be the catalyst for a whole new lifestyle. More
Why is car culture so big in Syracuse? Brian Badger puts it perfectly. It’s the winter. When you spend months cooped up waiting for spring, getting your car out of storage means everything. We appreciate it more because we only get a small dose of it. #cavalcadeofcars More
Stacked weekend at the Cavalcade of Cars! Kicking things off on Upstate Import Saturday with a live performance of the national anthem on guitar courtesy of local musician Jimmy Falco. From there, we have Lorianne, a Syracuse Nationals alum, performing a rockabilly tribute to the oldies in the old school area. Hot Rod Ford and […] More
Good News York – Episode 157 | Brian Badger from Cavalcade of Cars Syracuse In this episode, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Brian Badger — Operations Manager for Syracuse Nationals, LLC — to talk about one of Central New York’s most exciting car culture events: the Cavalcade of Cars, Syracuse Edition. Brian shares the […] More
We learned something that’s going to change the way I think about those "flushable" wipes. According to Joey from Sewercuse, they technically do flush, and that’s exactly how the companies get away with calling them flushable. But they do not break down in your pipes. He pulls them out of drains every single day and […] More
Noah asks Joey how he ended up building a brand around one of the grossest jobs out there. His answer was simple: he genuinely loves it. He’s been doing drain work since he was 15, nothing phases him, and he describes pulling a clog as the same adrenaline rush as reeling in a fish. When […] More
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